June, 30 2020, 12:00am EDT
350.org Responds to House Democrats Climate Package
Today, the House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis, led by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Chair Kathy Castor (D-FL) unveiled a plan titled "Solving the Climate Crisis: The Congressional Action Plan for a Clean Energy Economy and a Healthy, Resilient, and Just America." The 500 page plan focuses on eliminating emissions from electricity, transit, and buildings, with a goal of reaching 100% electric vehicles by 2035, net-zero carbon emissions in the electricity sector by 2040, and in all sectors by 2050.
WASHINGTON
Today, the House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis, led by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Chair Kathy Castor (D-FL) unveiled a plan titled "Solving the Climate Crisis: The Congressional Action Plan for a Clean Energy Economy and a Healthy, Resilient, and Just America." The 500 page plan focuses on eliminating emissions from electricity, transit, and buildings, with a goal of reaching 100% electric vehicles by 2035, net-zero carbon emissions in the electricity sector by 2040, and in all sectors by 2050.
In response, 350.org's Associate Director of U.S. Policy Natalie Mebane made the following statement:
"The House Democrats' climate plan is more ambitious than what we've seen from Democratic leadership to date - and that is in no small part a testament to the ever-expanding climate movement who have demanded a Green New Deal. While we acknowledge this first step we know there is no tackling the climate crisis without unapologetically addressing Big Oil's grip on our economy and making them pay for the damage they've caused to our climate and communities. We urge House Democrats to go even further and put forward a plan at the scale of the climate crisis. Going bigger and bolder will show that there are real climate leaders in Congress willing to do what it takes to turn around our economy and society, and reinvest in communities already suffering from the compound effects of climate disasters, COVID-19, a longstanding crisis of racial injustice, and health and economic inequities.
"With less than ten years to keep warming at below 1.5 degrees celsius, the plan's targets for phasing out emissions need to be stronger. Specifically, these plans need to go further on regulating and phasing out fossil fuel production with clear target dates for the elimination of all fossil fuel expansion and subsidies.
"We call on House Democrats to stop evading the largest source of greenhouse emissions - the fossil fuel industry - and expand their plan to eliminate fossil fuels, prioritize communities most impacted by the climate crisis, and provide millions of Americans with the resources and training needed to transition to jobs in renewable energy."
350 is building a future that's just, prosperous, equitable and safe from the effects of the climate crisis. We're an international movement of ordinary people working to end the age of fossil fuels and build a world of community-led renewable energy for all.
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