Message of the Week: October 15, 2019

As members of Congress return from congressional 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 action to address the climate crisis. Members of Congress need to speak out against the Trump administration’s attempts to roll back vital environmental and public health protections and support our country’s transition to a 100% clean energy economy. 

Reorient Target Messaging

• The American people have made it clear they want bold solutions to address the climate crisis. While the Trump administration attacks states’ authority to protect their constituents from harmful tailpipe pollution that’s contributing to climate change, leaders in the U.S. House of Representatives have stepped up to propose bold climate solutions that will put our country on a path towards achieving a 100% clean energy economy by 2050. 
• [Senator] must listen to [his/her] constituents and support action to address the climate crisis. 
• Climate change is happening. In the absence of federal leadership, state and local officials, businesses, and community leaders are already taking action to cut carbon pollution and address the climate crisis. 
• [State Demonym]s are already experiencing the impacts of climate change and are urging [Senator] to stand up to the Trump administration’s attempts to roll back health and environmental protections and to support America’s growing clean energy economy.  

Renew Target Messaging

• A recent poll found that a growing number of Americans describe climate change as a crisis and two-thirds believe the Trump administration is not doing enough to tackle climate change.
• [Senator] should oppose the Trump administration’s efforts to roll back protections that reduce the pollution contributing to the climate crisis. We need bold climate solutions and are looking to [Senator] for [his/her] leadership. 
• As Americans grow increasingly concerned about the climate crisis, we need [Senator]to take action 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 commitments to achieve steep carbon pollution reductions and accelerate and incentivize the transition to clean, secure, and carbon-free energy. [Representative] should join this momentum by co-sponsoring the 100% Clean Economy Act of 2019.

ADDITIONAL BACKGROUND

• A CBS News poll released September 15 found that a majority of Americans think action needs to be taken right now to address climate change. Most consider it at least to be a serious problem — including more than a quarter who say it is a crisis.
• A Washington Post-Kaiser Family Foundation poll released on September 13 found that an overwhelming majority of Americans — about 8 in 10 — say that human activity is fueling climate change. Roughly half believe action is urgently needed within the next decade to avert the worst effects of climate change. 
• 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 would generate 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 1970.
• The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) confirmed that July 2019 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