Our country has an unprecedented opportunity to take coast-to-coast action against climate change, and it’s imperative we act now. This year’s budget reconciliation process is an excellent opportunity — the best chance we’ve had in decades — to act.
And we mean business. We’ve joined a dozen other nonprofit organizations in calling on corporate America to publicly support strong climate provisions in the budget reconciliation package currently under consideration in Congress.
What’s at stake?
The legislation includes the most comprehensive climate proposals to be considered by Congress in over a decade, such as:
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tax credits for clean energy, manufacturing, and zero-emission vehicles
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a clean electricity payment program that moves the electric power sector to 80% clean electricity by 2030
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a fee on methane pollution
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investments in grid modernization, transmission and electric-vehicle charging infrastructure
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funding for agricultural and forestry programs that achieve carbon removal through soil conservation and reforestation on private and public lands
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significant investments in environmental justice and support for overburdened communities
The policies under consideration could help achieve the vast majority of the emissions reductions in the U.S. 2030 commitment under the Paris Agreement.
Cattle graze near wind turbines near a TNC preserve in Minnesota. Photo by Richard Hamilton Smith.
Why business?
The reconciliation bill is a broad and complex package that affects businesses in many ways. This is an essential moment for companies and investors, especially those who have made climate and equity commitments, to match those pledges with consistent actions and advocacy.
The political roadblocks to passing the ambitious federal policies we need to address the climate crisis are significant. The corporate tax provisions in the reconciliation package are leading to some opposition to the entire piece of legislation. Individual companies and their trade associations have been lobbying against the reconciliation package as a whole, including the climate provisions, threatening the success of this once-in-a-decade opportunity to advance meaningful climate action.
What can you do?
A young activist reminds us what’s at stake. Seattle Climate Strike, September 20, 2019. Photo by Djordje Zlatanovic.
Even if you’re not a CEO, you still have a very important role: as a current or potential customer, your priorities matter to companies that want your business. Contact the business leaders you know, and the Customer Service departments of anywhere you shop, to share the letter and urge them to publicly support the climate provisions in the reconciliation package.
This is the moment — our best chance in a decade to make real progress as a country, not just on climate policy at home, but globally too, as world leaders prepare for COP26 in Glasgow this fall. Use your voice to urge the business community to speak up today.
Banner photo: Seattle Climate Strike on September 20, 2019 by Djordje Zlatanovic.