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WASHINGTON, DC – Earth Day Network (EDN) delivered 35,000 Urgent Action Climate Petitions to Capitol Hill today, part of a nationwide campaign demanding immediate, effective and equitable political action to tackle climate change. EDN representatives handed the names and signatures to members of the Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming following the Committee’s hearing on Energy and Global Warming Solutions for Vulnerable Communities.
Thousands of Americans from every state in the nation are demanding that Congress address equity issues in any major climate legislation that caps CO2 emissions. The Urgent Action Climate Petition calls for an immediate “carbon freeze” that caps U.S. CO2 emissions at current levels and reduces them by at least 80% by 2050. The Petition includes no giveaways or loopholes that would “grandfather” existing polluters, so every company must either pay carbon taxes or purchase emission permits.
“This action comes at a time when Congress is poised to pass the first major energy legislation to address climate change, legislation that should benefit us all and not place a greater burden on the poor,” said EDN President Kathleen Rogers. “The final bill that will be put before the President must include opportunities for community redevelopment, well-paid green jobs, and a plan to offset higher energy costs for our nation’s poorest families.”
Rogers cites new reports by The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities in Washington, D.C., which say the poorest 20% of our nation’s families would each have to come up with an extra $750-$1,000 annually to cover higher costs resulting from even a modest (15%) reduction in emissions. Those same reports say new climate policy could generate $50-$300 billion in federal revenue, some of which could be used to compensate low and moderate income households.
The EDN Urgent Action Climate Petition mandates that all revenues generated from a carbon tax or a government auction of carbon permits must be used for public purposes, including a speedy transition to renewable energy, the creation of green jobs, and assistance for those most vulnerable to climate change so that they can better cope with the impacts and participate in the new green economy.
About Earth Day Network
Earth Day Network, www.earthday.net, seeks to grow and diversify the environmental movement worldwide, and to mobilize it as the most effective vehicle for promoting a healthy, sustainable planet. It pursues these goals through education, public policy, and consumer activism. Current grassroots programs include the Climate Change Solutions Campaign, Campaign for Communities, and the National Civic Education Project. Earth Day Network works with more than 25,000 K-12 teachers in the U.S. alone. Earth Day Television, www.earthdaytv.net, greatly expands EDN’s reach to a global network of more than 17,000 partner organizations in 174 countries. More than one billion people participate in Earth Day civic activities, making it the largest secular civic event in the world. The 39th Earth Day will be celebrated on April 22, 2008.
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