To: The United States Senate
No infrastructure without climate action
Commit to filibuster any infrastructure bill unless it funds projects to reduce carbon emission from transportation.
Why is this important?
If President-elect Trump carries out his campaign promises, then one of the most crucial policies in the nation is also one of the most endangered: our climate change agenda.
Much of President Obama's achievements on this front were achieved by executive orders, meaning President Trump will have the power to gut (or at least not fully enforce) many of these programs.
We have one opportunity to exert leverage: the proposed infrastructure bill.
Jonathan Chait brilliantly lays out that whiles this bill is mightily tempting Democratic leadership, it is not in their best interest.
http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2016/11/schumer-and-pelosi-have-a-plan-to-make-trump-popular.html
Given the deficit busting aspect of this plan, it will likely not pass without Democratic support. So, we are asking Democratic leaders to use this legislation to protect our progress on climate change - a battle that is crucial for preventing illness, protecting the environment, combatting income inequality and avoiding a humanitarian crisis.
We are asking Senator Charles Schumer and other Democratic leaders to demand that a pre-requisite for any infrastructure bill is that it requires that any approved project to reduce that sector's carbon emissions to 2005 levels.
So a highway expansion that will lead to increased car traffic must offset that traffic and reduce carbon to 2005 levels - possibly by including a mass transit or green energy component or some other off-set.
Infrastructure is inextricably linked to climate change. According to the EPA, 26% of greenhouse gases come from transportation. So it would be irresponsible to address infrastructure while ignoring the long-term consequences.
Much of President Obama's achievements on this front were achieved by executive orders, meaning President Trump will have the power to gut (or at least not fully enforce) many of these programs.
We have one opportunity to exert leverage: the proposed infrastructure bill.
Jonathan Chait brilliantly lays out that whiles this bill is mightily tempting Democratic leadership, it is not in their best interest.
http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2016/11/schumer-and-pelosi-have-a-plan-to-make-trump-popular.html
Given the deficit busting aspect of this plan, it will likely not pass without Democratic support. So, we are asking Democratic leaders to use this legislation to protect our progress on climate change - a battle that is crucial for preventing illness, protecting the environment, combatting income inequality and avoiding a humanitarian crisis.
We are asking Senator Charles Schumer and other Democratic leaders to demand that a pre-requisite for any infrastructure bill is that it requires that any approved project to reduce that sector's carbon emissions to 2005 levels.
So a highway expansion that will lead to increased car traffic must offset that traffic and reduce carbon to 2005 levels - possibly by including a mass transit or green energy component or some other off-set.
Infrastructure is inextricably linked to climate change. According to the EPA, 26% of greenhouse gases come from transportation. So it would be irresponsible to address infrastructure while ignoring the long-term consequences.