Message of the Week: August 12, 2019 

Between dangerous heat waves jeopardizing the health and wellbeing of vulnerable communities,  wildfires destroying homes and businesses in the West, and historic flooding claiming lives and livelihoods across the Midwest, the impacts of climate change are hitting home for millions of Americans. In fact, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change recently released the Special Report on Climate Change and Land and it found the climate impacts are already severely affecting crop yields and rising temperatures are bringing the threat of a food crisis. 

As members of Congress are in their home states and districts for August recess, it’s important to remind them that an overwhelming majority of Americans, including their constituents, are concerned about the impacts of climate change and want bold climate action to address the climate crisis. 

Reorient Target Messaging

• The American people have made it clear they want bold solutions to address the climate crisis. Leaders in the U.S. House of Representatives have proposed bold climate solutions that will put our country on a path towards achieving net zero carbon pollution and a 100% clean energy economy by 2050.  [Senator] must follow their lead and take immediate steps to confront the impacts of climate change.
• [State Demonym]s are already experiencing the impacts of climate change in their state, which is why mayors, businesses, and community leaders are already taking steps to address the climate crisis and are urging [Senator] to stop attempting to slow America’s growing clean energy economy.  

Renew Target Messaging

• With July being the hottest month on record and extreme weather season in full swing, the need for climate action is clear. [Senator] should oppose the Trump administration’s efforts to roll back protections that would reduce the pollution that’s contributing to the climate crisis, and put forth bold climate solutions. 
• As Americans grow increasingly concerned about the climate crisis, we need [Senator]’s leadership to help protect our public health and environment, enhance job creation and the economy, and mitigate the worst impacts of climate change. 

Energize Target Messaging

• [Representative] should listen to the demands for climate solutions and co-sponsor the 100% Clean Economy Act of 2019. 
• City, state, and business leaders are already making local commitments to achieve steep carbon pollution reductions as well as accelerate and incentivize the transition to clean, secure, and carbon-free energy. [Representative] should join the momentum by co-sponsoring the 100% Clean Economy Act of 2019.

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.
• 12 states are considering policies that get 100% of their electricity from clean energy sources. 
• Nearly 3.3 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 Copernicus Climate Change Service said July was the hottest month ever on record. 

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/

The 100% Clean Economy Act of 2019 Toolkit is accessible here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Uj-4HtIaULMOQAk9_sI85pk9S8MTsJeOVoMrffzjLaE/edit?usp=sharing