Message of the Week: July 22, 2019 

As a dangerous and potentially deadly heat wave scorches the central and eastern part of the United States, the need for climate action is clear. Several studies have shown that heat waves like this one are becoming more frequent, longer-lasting and more intense. Nevertheless, the Trump administration continues to roll back protections that limit the pollution that’s contributing to climate change,  thwarting the transition to a 100% clean energy economy, jeopardizing the growing clean energy job force and putting communities across the country at risk. 

Reorient Target Messaging

• [Target] must stop supporting Donald Trump’s “Polluter Administration” and its reckless rollbacks of public health and climate safeguards. They should be taking the lead from local leaders, communities and businesses that are already moving forward to transition America to a 100% clean energy economy. 
• [STATE DEMONYM]s are already experiencing the impacts of climate change in their state and demand [Target] stop attempting to slow America’s growing clean energy economy. 
• We need to transition to a 100% clean energy economy now, and [Target] should support policies that move us in that direction.  

Renew Target Messaging

• As the Trump administration continues to ignore the climate change crisis, we need [Target]’s leadership to help protect our public health and environment, enhance job creation and the economy, and mitigate the worst impacts of climate change.
• [Target] should support America’s transition to a 100% clean energy economy by 2050, which will spur clean energy development, cut the carbon pollution that contributes to climate change, protect our health, and create more clean energy jobs.

Energize Target Messaging

• We’re counting on [Target] to continue protecting [State Demonym]’s public health and environment by supporting America’s transition to a 100% clean energy economy. 
• By joining local leaders, businesses and communities calling for a 100% clean energy economy, [Target] is showing the American people [he/she] is committed to addressing the climate change crisis and supporting America’s growing clean energy economy.

ADDITIONAL BACKGROUND

• Navigator Research revealed that seven-in-ten Americans think climate change is either a dangerous problem for people today or one that needs to be addressed today in order to prevent it from becoming dangerous in the future.
• The clean energy economy is growing as 42 states and D.C have more clean energy jobs than fossil fuel energy jobs.
• Over 3.2 million jobs nationally have been created as part of America’s transition to a clean energy economy. 
• A climate assessment published by the Trump administration found extreme heat events are on the rise in the United States and have been since the 1960s.
• The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said the average temperature in June soared to its highest level on record, and that July could follow the same pattern. 

For more national and state-specific facts about climate change, clean energy, extreme weather, and carbon pollution, please visit the Climate Change Index at https://climateindex.org/