CCL exists to create the political will for climate solutions by enabling individual breakthroughs in the exercise of personal and political power. -- Mission Statement
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Alarm Grows, Denial Fades,
as Nature Speaks
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NOW'S THE TIME!
Climate -- and climate politics -- are both moving fast.
You can participate.
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Calling on Congress
An economy-wide carbon price is the single most powerful tool we have to reduce America’s carbon pollution at the speed and scale necessary, and we’re asking Congress to enact that powerful tool this year. Hear updates on what’s happening in Washington from Brooking's Institution economist and CCL advisor Adele Morris and from CCL’s government affairs team.
It Takes a Coalition
Great social change has always required coalition building. Here, the Executive Director of the youth activist group Our Climate and the President of the conservative Niskanen Center share how they're supporting climate solutions. In breakout sessions you’ll hear from faith groups, local leaders, businesses and more about their perspectives on the push for a price on carbon.
Grassroots Action
Grassroots action is the core of the push for an effective carbon price. Citizens’ Climate grassroots supporters span the United States' diverse climates and interests. Together, we’ll double down on the push for a carbon price. Train for actions you can take in your community with the media and your member of Congress.
In lieu of a Marin chapter virtual membership meeting in June, we'll be at this one. Please join us, and see you in July.
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This is a big deal:
"For first time, the International Energy Agency has outlined ways to accomplish drastic cuts in emissions."
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Nations Must Drop Fossil Fuels, Fast, World Energy Body Warns
Nations around the world would need to immediately stop approving new coal-fired power plants and new oil and gas fields and quickly phase out gasoline-powered vehicles if they want to avert the most catastrophic effects of climate change, the world’s leading energy agency said.
In a sweeping new report, the International Energy Agency issued a detailed road map of what it would take for the world’s nations to slash carbon dioxide emissions to net zero by 2050. That would very likely keep the average global temperature from increasing 1.5 Celsius above preindustrial levels — the threshold beyond which scientists say the Earth faces irreversible damage.
[Very detailed, but where's a global carbon price? Dr. James Hansen, former chief NASA climate scientist, CCL advisor and the first to warn Congress in 1988 that "global warming has been detected" consistently declares, "As long as fossil fuels remain artificially "cheap," they will continue to be used." His predictions have been right all along. The IEA evidently didn't get that memo.]
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"911, what is your emergency?"
Wildfire, Orange County, in December 2020
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Environmental Protection Agency:
Climate Change Is Making Big Problems Bigger
New data compiled by the E.P.A. shows how global warming is making life harder for Americans in myriad ways that threaten their health, safety and homes.
Wildfires are bigger and starting earlier in the year. Heat waves are more frequent. Seas are warmer and flooding more common. The air is getting hotter. Even ragweed pollen season is beginning sooner.
Climate change is already happening around the United States, the Environmental Protection Agency says. And in many cases, that change is speeding up.
[It's great to have the EPA back in truth land after being AWOL for four years. An effective carbon price won't instantly reverse these threats but will help mitigate how bad they're going to get. We're already 50 years late, so it's even more urgent to get it right. Now.]
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Money Talks.
We need to listen.
“Our modern financial system was built on the assumption that the climate was stable. It’s clear we no longer live in such a world.” -- National Economic Council Director, Brian Deese
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President Biden Directs Agencies to Analyze and Mitigate the Risk Climate Change Poses to Homeowners, Consumers, Businesses, Workers, the Financial System and Federal Government Itself
President Biden has issued an executive order that outlines the administration’s plan to manage the financial risks associated with the climate crisis. The order highlights the administration’s determination to use all the resources of the federal government to combat the threat that climate change poses to financial stability.
The order requires that:
The National Economic Council develop a comprehensive climate finance strategy for the entire federal government;
Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen draft a report with members of the Financial Stability Oversight Council of recommendations for reducing climate risks to financial stability, including the risks that banks create when they finance fossil fuels;
The Office of Management and Budget minimize climate-related risk in federal lending and procurement, and report on climate risks to the federal government’s budget;
The Department of Labor quickly reverse a set of damaging rules developed during the Trump era that would punish pensions and retirement plans for sustainable investing, a step that will ward off some risks to current and future retirees;
The Federal Insurance Office work with state regulators to examine the potential for major disruptions to insurance coverage in parts of the country vulnerable to climate change. Insurance companies are primarily regulated by state insurance departments.
and in January:
[As previously noted, the Biden plan does not include carbon pricing. That's why CCL is focused on Congress, especially the new version of The Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act. Let's hope that these federal reviews confirm Sec. Yellen's, and the rest of the economics profession's, advocacy for a carbon fee, dividend and border adjustment.]
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What's new with the new
Energy Innovation Act?
58 House cosponsors and counting, including members of the Congressional Black Caucus, Hispanic Caucus, Asian Pacific American Caucus, and Congressional LGBTQ+ Equality Caucus. And the controversial "pause" is gone.
Momentum is building in Marin for HR 2307. Recent endorsers include MCE (Marin Clean Energy), Canal Alliance, Marin County Bicycle Coalition, Mike's Bikes, San Rafael Airport and the Green Business Committee of the San Rafael Chamber of Commerce. Thank you!
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This session of Congress has seen the introduction of detailed carbon pricing bills, and the politics are moving quickly.
If you would like to participate -- introduce us to owners, CEOs or other business leaders -- please contact Debbie Patrick.
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If you know someone who would like to be added to this distribution list, please send their email after obtaining their permission, or better yet, have them join CCL.
PJMD1@me.com
Prepared by Peter G. Joseph, M.D.
Apologies for cross postings
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This is how you behave inside The Capitol:
Make an appointment. Business attire recommended.
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