January 10, 2019
Re: Legislation to Address the Urgent Threat of Climate Change
Dear Representative:
On behalf of our millions of members and supporters, we are writing today to urge you to consider the following principles as the 116th Congress debates climate change legislation and momentum around the country builds for a Green New Deal. As the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change recently warned, if we are to keep global warming below 1.5°C, we must act aggressively and quickly. At a minimum, reaching that target requires visionary and affirmative legislative action in the following areas:
Halt all fossil fuel leasing, phase out all fossil fuel extraction, and end fossil fuel and other dirty energy subsidies.
The science is clear that fossil fuels must be kept in the ground. Pursuing new fossil fuel projects at this moment in history is folly. Most immediately, the federal government must stop selling off or leasing publicly owned lands, water, and mineral rights for development to fossil fuel producers. The government must also stop approving fossil fuel power plants and infrastructure projects. We must reverse recent legislation that ended the 40-year ban on the export of crude oil, end the export of all other fossil fuels, and overhaul relevant statutes that govern fossil fuel extraction in order to pursue a managed decline of fossil fuel production. Further, the federal government must immediately end the massive, irrational subsidies and other financial support that fossil fuel, and other dirty energy companies (such as nuclear, waste incineration and biomass energy) continue to receive both domestically and overseas.
Transition power generation to 100% renewable energy.
As the United States shifts away from fossil fuels, we must simultaneously ramp up energy efficiency and transition to clean, renewable energy to power the nation’s economy where, in addition to excluding fossil fuels, any definition of renewable energy must also exclude all combustion-based power generation, nuclear, biomass energy, large scale hydro and waste-to-energy technologies. To achieve this, the United States must shift to 100 percent renewable power generation by 2035 or earlier. This shift will necessitate upgrading our electricity grid to be smart, efficient, and decentralized, with the ability to incorporate battery storage and distributed energy systems that are democratically governed. In addition, Congress must bring the outdated regulation of electricity into the twenty-first century, encouraging public and community ownership over power infrastructure and electricity choice, as well as permitting distributed energy sources, including rooftop and community solar programs to supply the grid.
Expand public transportation and phase out fossil fuel vehicles.
As the transition away from fossil fuels occurs, our transportation system must also undergo 100 percent decarbonization. To accomplish a fossil-fuel-free reality, Congress must require and fund greater investment in renewable-energy-powered public transportation that serves the people who need it most. The United States must also phase out the sale of automobiles and trucks with internal fossil fuel combustion engines as quickly as possible and phase out all existing fossil fuel mobile sources by 2040 or earlier. Federal credits for electric vehicles must be expanded.
Harness the full power of the Clean Air Act.
The Clean Air Act provides powerful tools that have proven successful in protecting the air we breathe and reducing greenhouse pollution. It can also serve as an important backstop to ensure climate targets are met. Congress should harness the full power of the statute by setting strict deadlines and providing adequate funding for EPA to carry out all its duties under all applicable sections of the Act, including implementing greenhouse pollution reduction requirements for cars, trucks, aircraft, ships, smokestacks and other sources, as well as a science-based national pollution cap. The Act has successfully reduced many air pollutants and can do the same for greenhouse pollution.
Ensure a Just Transition led by impacted communities and workers.
In effectuating this energy transformation, it is critical to prioritize support for communities who have historically been harmed first and most by the dirty energy economy and workers in the energy sector and related industries. We support a comprehensive economic plan to drive job growth and invest in a new green economy that is designed, built and governed by communities and workers. Building new energy, waste, transportation and housing infrastructure, designed to serve climate resilience and human needs; retrofitting millions of buildings to conserve energy and other resources; and, actively restoring natural ecosystems to protect communities from climate change, are but a few ways to build a sustainable, low carbon economy where no one is left behind during this change.
Uphold Indigenous Rights
The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) must be upheld and implemented, along with treaties, instruments and decisions of international law that recognize that Indigenous Peoples have the right to give or withhold “free, prior and informed consent” to legislation and development of their lands, territories and/or natural resources, cultural properties and heritage, and other interests, and to receive remedies of losses and damages of property taken without consent.
Further, we will vigorously oppose any legislation that: (1) rolls back existing environmental, health, and other protections, (2) protects fossil fuel and other dirty energy polluters from liability, or (3) promotes corporate schemes that place profits over community burdens and benefits, including market-based mechanisms and technology options such as carbon and emissions trading and offsets, carbon capture and storage, nuclear power, waste-to-energy and biomass energy. Fossil fuel companies should pay their fair share for damages caused by climate change, rather than shifting those costs to taxpayers.
We look forward to working with you to address the gravest environmental crisis humanity has ever faced, to protect all present and future generations around the world, while centering the rights of those communities and workers most impacted.
Sincerely,
A Community Voice – Louisiana
ACHE Act
Acoustic Ecology Institute
ActionAid USA
Advocates for Springfield NY
Alabama Center for Rural Enterprise
Alabama Interfaith Power and Light/The People’s Justice Council
Allamakee County Protectors – Education Campaign
Alliance for a Green Economy
Alliance for Climate Education
Alliance for Energy Democracy
Alliance for the Wild Rockies
Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments
Already Devalued and Devastated Homeowners of Parsippany
Amazon Watch
Animals Are Sentient Beings, Inc. 17.Anthropocene Alliance
Arise for Social Justice
Arvadans for Progressive Action 20.Asamblea de Gonzales
Ashford Clean Energy Task Force
Athens County (OH) Fracking Action Network 23.Athens for Everyone
Aytzim: Ecological Judaism
Back Country Excursions
Backbone Campaign
Balance & Accuracy in Journalism
Bay Area-System Change not Climate Change (BA-SCnCC) 29.Be the Change
Beloved Earth Community, The Riverside Church 31.Benedictine Sisters Erie PA
Bergen SWAN (Save The Watershed Action Network) 33.Berks Gas Truth
Berkshire chapter NAACP
Berkshire Environmental Action Team
Better Path Coalition
Beyond Extreme Energy
Big Reuse
Biofuelwatch
Black Swamp Creek Land Trust Inc.
Blue Frontier Campaign
Bold Alliance
Bold Iowa
Boston Clean Energy Coalition
Boston Climate Action Network
Bridgerland Audubon Society
Bronx Climate Justice North
Brooklyn Bridge CSA
Buckeye Environmental Network
Bucks Environmental Action
CA for Progress
CA Prison Moratorium Project
Cache Valley Citizens Climate Lobby
California Young Democrats Environmental Caucus
Californians Against Fracking & Dangerous Drilling 56.Californians for Western Wilderness
Call to Action – Colorado
Campaign for America’s Future
Campaign for Renewable Energy 60.Cape Downwinders
Care About Climate
Cascadia Wildlands
CatholicNetwork.US
Catskill Mountainkeeper
Center for a Sustainable Coast
Center for Biological Diversity
Center for Emergent Diplomacy
Center for International Environmental Law 69.Center for Popular Democracy
Center for Story-based Strategy
Center for Sustainable Economy
Central California Asthma Collaborative (CCAC) 73.Central Jersey Coalition Against Endless War 74.Central Jersey Environmental Defenders
Central Jersey Progressive Democrats
CEO Pipe Organs/Golden Ponds Farm
CERBAT
Chatham Research Group
Chesapeake Climate Action Network
Christians For The Mountains
Church Women United in New York State
Ciel Power LLC
Citizen’s Committee for Flood Relief
Citizens Acting for Rail Safety (CARS) — Winona, MN 85.Citizens Coalition for a Safe Community
Citizens For Responsible Oil & Gas – CFROG 87.Citizens for the Preservation of Middletown Valley 88.Citizens For Water
Citizens Regeneration Lobby
Citizens United for Renewable Energy (CURE) 91.Citizens’ Environmental Coalition
Clean Coast
Clean Energy Action
Climate Action Alliance of the Valley
Climate Action Group of the Unitarian Society of Northampton and Florence 96.Climate Action Mondays
Climate Action Now MA
Climate Action Team of Congregation Havurah Shalom
Climate Defense Project
Climate Generation: A Will Steger Legacy
Climate Hawks Vote
Climate Justice Alliance
Climate Justice Committee of CNY Solidarity Coalition
Climate Justice League
Climate March
ClimateMama
Coalition Against Nukes
Coalition Against the Pilgrim Pipeline NJ
Coalition Against the Rockaway Pipeline
CODEPINK
Collaborative Center for Justice
Columbus Community Bill of Rights
Comité Civico del Valle
Common Sense Design
Communities for a Better Environment
Community Advocates for Sustainable Energy
Community Alliance for Global Justice
Community Ecology Institute
Community Free Democrats
Compressor Free Franklin
Concerned Health Professionals of New York
Concerned Residents of Oxford
Conservation Congress
Cook Inletkeeper
Corporate Accountability
Corporate Ethics International
Corvallis Interfaith Climate Justice Committee
Courage Campaign
Crawford Stewardship Project
Creation Care Network, Episcopal Diocese of Mass.
CREDO
CT Coalition for Environmental Justice
CWA Local 1081
Damascus Citizens for Sustainability
DC Statehood Green Party
Delaware Riverkeeper Network
Dēmos
Dietrick Institute for Applied Insect Ecology
Divest LA
Dogwood Alliance
Don’t Gas the Meadowlands Coalition
Don’t Gas the Pinelands Coalition
Don’t Waste Arizona
Down to Earth Storytelling Project
Dryden Resource Awareness Coalition
Earth and Sky School
Earth Care
Earth Day Network
Earth Ethics, Inc.
Earth Ministry/Washington Interfaith Power & Light
Earthworks
Echotopia LLC
Eco-Eating
Eco-Poetry.org
EcoEquity
Efficiency For All CT
Elders Action Network
Elders Climate Action
Elmirans & Friends Against Fracking
Embrace Impatience Associates
Emerald Coastkeeper, Inc
Endangered Habitats League
Endangered Species Coalition
Enviro-Build
Environmental Advocates
Environmental Health Trust, http://ehtrust.org
Environmental Justice Committee of the Unitarian Society of Ridgewood, NJ
Environmental Justice Task Force of the WNY Peace Center
Environmental Protection Information Center
Environmentalists Against War
Eugene Interfaith Earthkeepers
Evergreen Islands
Extinction Rebellion
FACTS- Families Advocating for Chemical and Toxics Safety
Family Farm Defenders
Farmworker Association of Florida
Fearless Fund
First Churches, Northampton, MA
Flood Forum, USA
Flood Victims of Richwood
Food & Water Watch
Foodshed Alliance
For Love of Water (FLOW)
For The Generations
Fossil Free Tompkins
Four Freedoms Forum
Frac Sand Sentinel
Frack Free Boulder
Frack Free Four Corners
Frack Free Frostburg (Maryland)
Frack Free Ohio
Franciscan Action Network
Franciscan Response to Fossil Fuels
FreshWater Accountability Project Ohio
Fresnans against Fracking
Friends of Merrymeeting Bay
Friends of the Bitterroot
Friends of the Earth US
Friends of the Pogonip
Fund for Wild Nature
GAIA
Gas Free Seneca
Gasp
Genesis Farm
Georgia WAND Education Fund
Geos Institute
GlinesProperties.com
Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives
Gloucester County Food and Water Watch
Good Jobs Nation
Good work institute
Grassroots Institute
Gray Panthers of Berkeley-East Bay
Great Egg Harbor Watershed Association
Great Old Broads for Wilderness
Greater Hells Canyon Council
Greater New York Labor Religion Coalition
Green America
Green Education and Legal Fund
Green For All
Green Map System
Green Newton
Green Party of California
Green Party of Nassau County
Green Retirement, Inc.
Green Sanctuary Committee, Community Church of NY, UU
Green Team at Evergreen UU Fellowship
Green-Buildings.com
Greenaction for Health and Environmental Justice
Greenbelt Climate Action Network
GreenFaith Bergen Circle
GreenLatinos
Greenpeace USA
GRID Alternatives
Gulf Coast Center for Law & Policy
Hackensack Riverkeeper
Hands Across the Sand/Land
Harford County Climate Action
Harlem Climate Caucus
Harris Management Services, LLC
Hawaii Institute For Human Rights
HealthyPlanet
Heirs To Our Oceans
Hesperian Health Guides
Hip Hop Caucus
Hold Our Ground
Hollywood NOW
Honeydew Advisors
Hope Glen Farm
Howard County Climate Action
Howling For Wolves
Hudson Valley Energy
Hunger Action Los Angeles
Idaho Rivers United
Idaho Sporting Congress, Inc.
Idle No More SF Bay
iEat Green, LLC
Indigenous Environmental Network
Indivisible
Indivisible CA-43
Indivisible Cranbury
Indivisible Lambertville/New Hope
Indivisible Pittsfield
Information Network for Responsible Mining
Inland Ocean Coalition
inNative
Inspiration of Sedona
Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy
Institute for Governance & Sustainable Development
Institute for Policy Studies
International Marine Mammal Project of Earth Island Institute
Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement
Iroquois Studies Association
Irvington Activists
Jackpine Savage Guide Service
Jesus People Against Pollution
Jewish Climate Action Network
John Muir Project of a Earth Island Institute
Jubilana
Keep Cornwall Safe
Kentucky Environmental Foundation
Kentucky Heartwood
Kentucky Interfaith Power & Light
Kentucky Student Environmental Coalition
Kitsap Environmental Coalition
Klamath Forest Alliance
La Union Hace La Fuerza
Labor Network for Sustainability
Labour, Health and Human Rights Development Centre
Lafayette Parish Flood Forum
League of Women Voters of the United States
Livelihoods Knowledge Exchange Network (LiKEN)
Long Beach 350
Long Island Progressive Coalition
Longmeadow(MA) Environmental Transition Group
Los Alamos Study Group
Manhattan Project for a Nuclear-Free World
Manifold Artworks LLC
Marcellus Outreach Butler
Maryland Environmental Health Network
Mattawoman Watershed Society
Mazaska Talks
Metro NY Catholic Climate Movement
Michigan Citizens for Water Conservation
Mid-Missouri Peaceworks
Milwaukee Riverkeeper
Mission Blue/Sylvia Earle Alliance
MLK Coalition of Greater Los Angeles
Mormon Environmental Stewardship Alliance (MESA)
Mothers Out Front
Nassau Hiking & Outdoor Club
National Council of Gray Panthers Networks
National Family Farm Coalition
Nature Coast Conservation, Inc.
NC WARN
Neighbor to Neighbor MASS Ed Fund
New Energy Economy
New Hampshire Audubon
New jersey Tenants Organization
New Paltz Climate Action Coalition
New York Climate Action Group
New York Communities for Change (NYCC)
New York Heartwoods
New York Progressive Action Network
New York’s Second District Democrats
Newark Science and Sustainability Inc.
NJ Skylands Sunrise Hub
NJ State Industrial Union Council
No Canton Gas Pipeline: Toward an Equitable Sustainable Future
No Fracked Gas Cayuga
No Fracked Gas in Mass
No Sharon Gas Pipeline | Clean Energy Now
No Walpole Gas Pipeline
North American Climate, Conservation and Environment(NACCE)
North Quabbin Energy
Northern Jaguar Project
Northern Michigan Environmental Action Council (NMEAC)
Northern NJ Chapter, National Organization for Women
Northjersey Pipeline Walkers
Northwest Atlantic Marine Alliance
Northwest Conservation District
Nuclear Energy Information Service (NEIS)
Nuclear Information and Resource Service
NW Bronx Indivisible
NY Buddhist Climate Action Network
NYC DSA Ecosocialist
NYC Friends of Clearwater
NYC Grassroots Alliance
NYC H2O
NYH2o
NYPIRG
Oakland Park Democratic Club
Ocean Conservation Research
Oil Change USA
Olympic Climate Action
On Behalf of Planet Earth
Oregon Physicians for Social Responsibility
Organic Consumers Association
Our Revolution New Mexico
Our Revolution Southern Oregon
Our Santa Fe River, Inc.
OVEC-Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition
Pan to Save the Planet.org
Partnership for Global Justice
Partnership for Policy Integrity
Pasco Activists Inc
Patriots From The Oil & Gas Shales
PAUSE – People of Albany United for Safe Energy
Pax Christi Florida
Peace Action New York State
Pelican Media
People Demanding Action
People Over Pipelines
People’s Action
People’s Health Movement – USA
Peoples Climate Movement – NY
Physicians for Social Responsibility
Physicians for Social Responsibility
Physicians for Social Responsibility
Physicians for Social Responsibility
Physicians for Social Responsibility
Physicians for Social Responsibility
Physicians for Social Responsibility
Pinelands Preservation Alliance
Piscataway Progressive Democratic Organization
Planting Justice
Plymouth Friends for Clean Water
Popular Resistance
Portland Gray Panthers
Potomac Riverkeeper Network
Power Shift Network
Presention Sisters-Aberdeen SD Justice Commission
Preserve Monroe
Preserve Wild Santee
Prince George’s County Peace & Justice Coalition
Progressive Action of Lower Manhattan
Progressive Democrats of America
Progressive Democrats of America Milwaukee
Project Coyote
Promoting Health and Sustainable Energy (PHASE)
PSR Iowa Chapter
Public Bank LA
Public Citizen
Public Laboratory for Open Technology and Science
Quaker Earthcare Witness
Arizona Chapter Colorado Working Group Iowa Chapter
Maine Chapter
New York
Philadelphia
Rachel Carson Council
Rachel’s Network
Raging Grannies Eugene
Rainforest Action Network
RE Sources for Sustainable Communities
Reach Out America
Real Provision
Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association
Renewable Energy Long Island (reLI)
Resist the Pipeline
RESTORE: The North Woods
ReThink Energy Florida
Revolution LA
Richmond Interfaith Climate Justice League
River Guardian Foundation
Riverkeeper
ROAR (Religious Organizations Along the River)
Rochester People’s Climate Coalition
Rockland United: A Community for Social Justice
Rogue Riverkeeper
RootsAction.org
Rootskeeper
Roseland Against Compressor Station (RACS)
Rutland Area Climate Coalition
Sacramento Climate Coalition
Safe Energy Rights Group, Inc.
Safe Food Matters Inc.
SafeEnergyAnalyst.org
San Diego 350
San Francisco Baykeeper
San Juan Citizens Alliance
Sane Energy Project
Santa Barbara Standing Rock Coalition
Santa Cruz Climate Action Network
Save James Island
Save Nevada’s Water: Ban Fracking In Nevada
Save Our Shores
Save Our Sky Blue Waters
Save The Hills Alliance, Inc.
Save the Manatee
Save Wolves Now Network
Schmid & Company, Inc.
Seeding Sovereignty
Seneca Lake Guardian, a Waterkeeper Alliance Affiliate
Sequoia ForestKeeper
Seven Circles Foundation
ShaleshockCNY
Sharon Springs Against Hydrofracking
Sharon, CT Energy and Environment Commission
Shawnee Forest Sentinels
Shoreline Unitarian Universalist Society
Show Up LI
Signal Fire
Sisters of Charity of New York
Sisters of Mercy of the Americas’ Institute Justice Team
Sisters of St. Dominic of Blauvelt, New York
Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia
Slow Food North Shore
Slow Food USA
Small Ville Farms
SoCal 350 Climate Action
Social Justice Commission (Episcopal Diocese of Western Massachusetts)
Solar Solution
Solar Wind Works
Solarize Albany County
SolidarityINFOService
Solutionary Rail
South Asian Fund For Education, Scholarship and Training (SAFEST)
South Atlantic Fishermen’s Association
South Coast Neighbors United
South Florida Wildlands Association
Southern Illinoisans Against Fracturing Our Environment
Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance
Southwest Native Cultures
Spottswoode Winery, Inc.
Springfield (Massachusetts) Area Interfaith Climate Action Network
St. Stephen’s United Methodist Church
Stand.earth
STAR
Stephanie Low Artists Inc.
Stone Quarry House
Stop Fracking Long Beach
Stop NY Fracked Gas Pipeline
Sugar Shack Alliance
Sullivan Area Citizens for Responsible Energy Development (SACRED)
Summit Marches On
Sunflower Alliance
Sunnyside Village Cohousing
Sunrise Movement
Surfrider Foundation
Surfrider Foundation NYC
Sustainable Economies Law Center
Sustainable Energy & Economy Network
Sustainable Marin
Sustainable Sudbury
Sustainable Tompkins
Sustainable Upton
Sustaining Way
SustainUS
Symmetric Energy
Syracuse Cultural Workers
Syracuse Peace Council
Take Action Connecticut
TALK Environment Committee, Glastonbury
Texas Campaign for the Environment
Texas Drought Project
Texas Physicians for Social Responsibility
The Canary Coalition
The Climate Mobilization Hoboken Chapter
The Climate Mobilization Santa Barbara Chapter
The Ecology Party of Florida
The Global Cooling Project
The Greater Prince William Climate Action Network
The Lands Council
The Leap
The Mothers Project, Inc
The Northeast Organic Farming Association of New York (NOFA-NY)
The Reconstructionist Synagogue of the North Shore
The River Project
The Shalom Center
The Wei LLC
The Whale Guite Project
The Whaleman Foundation
Three Parks Independent Democrats
Tikkun & the Network of Spiritual Progressives
Time Laboratory
Tinker Tree Play/Care
Toronto Non-GMO Coalition
Toxics Action Center
Toxics Information Project (TIP)
Transition Express, Inc
Transition Sebastopol Energy Group
Transition US
Traprock Center for Peace and Justice
Trevor Day School Environmental Club
Tri-County Sustainability Alliance
Turner Endangered Species Fund
Turtle Island Restoration Network
Two Mooks and a Mic
Unitarian Universalist FaithAction New Jersey
Unitarian Universalist Mass Action
Unitarian Universalist Ministry For Earth
Unitarian Universalist Pennsylvania Legislative Advocacy Network (UUPLAN)
Unitarian Universalist Service Committee
United Church of Christ Environmental Justice Ministry
United for Action
Universal Income Project
Up Homes
Up Top Acres
Uplift
Upper West Side Recycling
Urban Climate Nexus
Urban Tilth
US Labor Against the War
Utah Moms for Clean Air
Utah Physicians for a Healthy Environment
UU Congregation of Binghamton, Green Sanctuary
Valley Watch, Inc
Vashon Climate Action Group
Vote-Climate
Voters of Watchunghills
Wall of Women Colorado
Wasatch Clean Air Coalition
Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility
WATCH
Water Protectors of Milwaukee
Waterkeeper Alliance
WATERSPIRIT
WE ACT
We of Action New York (WofA-NY)
Weather Medic Inc
Wellstone Democratic Renewal Club
WESPAC Foundation, Inc
West 80s Neighborhood Association
West Atlanta Watershed Alliance
West Berkeley Alliance for Clean Air and Safe Jobs
West Roxbury Saves Energy
Western NY Drilling Defense
Western Watersheds Project
White Rabbit Grove RDNA
Wild Nature Institute
WildEarth Guardians
WildWest Institute
Williamsburg Climate Action Network
Winyah Rivers Foundation, Inc.
Wisconsin Network for Peace, Justice & Sustainability
Women’s Earth and Climate Action Network (WECAN)
Women’s International League of Peace and Freedom US Section
Xun Biosphere Project
Zero Waste USA
198 methods
2017 New Jersey Coalition for Climate Justice
350 Bay Area
350 Brooklyn
350 Cape Cod
350 Chicago
350 Colorado
350 Connecticut
350 Eastside (Seattle)
350 Eugene
350 Everett
350 Fairfax
350 Greenbelt/Greenbelt Climate Action Network
350 Kishwaukee (IL)
350 Loudoun
350 Mass for a Better Future
350 Mass Metro North
350 Milwaukee
350 Montgomery County, MD
350 Petaluma
350 Plattsburgh
350 Sacramento
350 Seattle
350 Silicon Valley
350 Tacoma
350 Triangle
350 Ventura County Climate Hub
350 Wichita (Kansas)
350.org
350NYC
350PDX
