Message from the Chair
The World Meteorological Organization released the latest news in May; the 1.5C degree threshold will be crossed as soon as 2027 at our current pace of carbon emissions. The time to act is now! The fossil fuel industry must be taken to account, as they push our planet to the brink of disaster. The industry has intentionally provoked misguided attacks on ESGs across the industry, and profits from fossil fuel companies worldwide like Shell, are at an all-time high. We continue, nonetheless, to subsidize the industry to no logical end. Interestingly, this week 130 members of Congress and the European Parliament urged that Sultan Al Jabar, who runs the State owned Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, be removed as President of the U.N. Climate Conference COP28.
The GOP aligned Supreme Court also just gutted Clean Water Act protections for tens of millions of acres of wetlands. Their ruling in Sackett vs Environmental Protection Agency basically allows corporations to poison drinking water for millions of Americans and pollute vital, life-sustaining wetlands across the country.
President Biden’s Environmental Protection Agency announced new carbon pollution regulations this month for existing power plants that would a cut or capture of all emissions by 2040, considerable as these account for 25% of the country’s climate pollution. This is an important step in meeting Biden’s climate goals, however, the new rules only affect frequently used plants over 300 megawatts, only 147 out of 3400 fossil-fueled plants in the U.S. 61 million people in low-income and communities of color continue living in range of plants whose emissions are not subject to the new rules.
In optimistic news, Ohio, traditionally against financial deals fostering net zero, will soon host the largest solar panel factory outside of China! Thanks to the IRA, this has been realized through massive investment attracted by tax credits. Alabama has also announced a one billion dollar investment in clean energy manufacturing.
Biden has made great strides, but we have a long road to travel to reach a true and just energy transition. We must put an end to this last gasp of the fossil profit frenzy. Decarbonisation is inevitable and unstoppable, but we must move up the pace before it’s too late. Join us in calling for the President to declare a National Climate Emergency.
Please sign our petition and press your representatives to take decisive action on behalf of the environment and climate. Your voice matters. Your vote matters.
Dana Freling
Chair, DA Environment & Climate Crisis Council
Six states have elections scheduled for 2023: KENTUCKY, LOUISIANA, MISSISSIPPI, NEW JERSEY, VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN. It’s good practice to register every year to vote, so request your absentee ballot today from Votefromabroad.org! For more information about specific races check 2023 State Voting Information and 2023 Election Dates.
Join all Democrats Abroad at our Annual General Meeting in D.C. on June 7th through 11th , either in person or virtually. We will have several caucus events throughout, organize congressional door knocks, hold the 2023 elections, and get to work planning for the 2024 elections. For more information RSVP !
 |
Check out these news highlights from the last month!
Media articles:
🛑 More Than 100 US, EU Politicians Want Oil CEO Removed as COP28 Head
🙅🏻 Markey bill would restore ban on US fossil fuel exports
🌍 By Fighting the Ozone Hole, We Accidentally Saved Ourselves
🚰 Colorado Frackers Doubled Freshwater Use During Megadrought, Even as Drilling and Oil Production Fell
♻️ EPA looks to toss ‘deceptive’ plastics recycling symbol
🛠 White House Unveils a New Climate Fix: Building Codes and Energy Retrofits
⚖️ A Supreme Court Ruling the Fossil-Fuel Industry Doesn’t Like
🏡 Biden announces new fund to help low-income housing get climate upgrades
♼ Is carbon capture viable? In a new rule, the EPA is asking power plants to prove it.
♨️ Federal pipeline agency rolls out methane proposal
💰 Climate Resolution Voted Down in El Paso After Fossil Fuel Interests and Other Opponents Pour More Than $1 Million into Opposition
🏆 The 2023 Winners of the Goldman Environmental Prize Will Go Down in History
🏦 Why the Debt Ceiling Debate Is Also a Climate Fight
Videos:
🗣 U.S. Climate Envoy John Kerry Speaks To British Parliament Committee
🚜 Tipping Point: Agriculture on the brink
🌍 ECCC Earth Day Video 2023
Volunteer with the ECCC – Contact us at eccc@democratsabroad if you’d like to get more involved. Join our working group, the Watchdogs Research Task Force or to help out with a variety of tasks including social media and communications.
Write your representative-
Guide to the IRA - This Guide Can Help You Save Money and Fight Climate Change
Sign the Petition to Declare a Climate Emergency!
🌎 Watch our May Climate Café – The U.S. and China and the Race to NET ZERO
🌍 Watch our ECCC Earth Day Video
🌎 Watch our April Climate Café – The U.S. and E.U.: Race to Electric Vehicles
🌎 Watch our March Climate Café – African Women Entrepreneurs: Green Energy Innovators
🌍 Watch our February Climate Café - Preserving the Lungs of the Planet: Brazil's 2nd chance!
🌍 Watch our December Climate Café – Arts and Climate Activism, with special guest Michelle Deatrick
🌍 Watch our November Climate Café - COP27 Round up: Live from Sharm El Sheik with Sam Goodman
🌍 Watch our YOUTH v GOV Voices Webinar
🌍 Did you miss our Co₂nsequences: Global Climate Rally in April? You can watch it here. We had a lot of great speakers and performers.
🌍 Want to make your lifestyle greener? Boost your knowledge. Check out our Earth Care Toolkit
Please consider donating to Democrats Abroad Environment & Climate Crisis Council to help with our ongoing efforts to get out the green vote and connect all of you with the policies and people fighting for a more sustainable planet.
Click on the link to become a one time or sustaining donor!
A meaningful way to get out our message is through social media. We need your help extending our essential message by following, liking, and subscribing to our newly established social media accounts: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. We can’t beat the algorithms without your help.