Focus on Arts and Ecology

Jon,

This morning, the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change released its landmark Climate Report, the most comprehensive assessment on global warming, and its yet another reminder of the urgency of action. Climate change is widespread, rapid, and intensifying — unequivocally caused by humans and affecting every corner of our planet. We can still limit temperature rise to the 1.5C threshold, but only with immediate large-scale action.

So I'm going to cut to the chase — because the narrow bipartisan infrastructure package that the Senate advanced over the weekend just doesn't cut it. It's a start to confronting the climate crisis and protecting our environment, but let's be clear: this is not the big, bold climate bill we have been pushing for and that this moment demands. Investments fell well short on priorities like clean energy and climate, which now must be advanced in the forthcoming budget reconciliation bill. It's been called a make-or-break moment.

So our team continues to work tirelessly to win this. And your support would give us a huge and much-needed boost. Help us continue to pressure our legislative leaders to go bigger and bolder — to pass an ambitious plan that is rooted in climate action and justice — by starting your monthly membership today. This moment is so important that a generous donor is matching every new sign-up's first 3 gifts.

In fact, the deal absolutely gutted climate spending. By $20 Billion.

Currently, the administration and Congress is leaving 75% of lead pipes intact and endangering drinking water and public health. Funding only 4% of what is needed to replace all diesel school buses with clean electric vehicles and stop additional toxic air pollution. Leaving a massive budget hole for priority items like public transit, rail, and EV charging. And those are just a few examples of the many climate programs that were cut, slashed, or completely erased during budget negotiations.

We've set our sights on the budget reconciliation process that allows for a bigger and bolder companion plan — and with activists across the country, our staff putting the might of the Sierra Club community behind them, movement partners, and Senate and House champs all pushing to secure more funding, we have a real shot at delivering the transformative investments that our communities deserve. But we can't afford to let up for a second, especially as Republicans in Congress and fossil fuel interests have almost limitless funds and are determined to derail this.

Renew your commitment to our planet and start your monthly membership today. It makes a difference every day — trust us when we say, it really matters. And especially right now as we give this fight everything we have — and your first 3 gifts will be MATCHED by a generous donor, up to $400,000. We'll also send you our SOS Emergency Kit with our thanks.

We're playing both the short and long games. The next few weeks are all hands on deck as these bills are being shaped, and we won't stop there. We have the narrowest of margins, and we're continuing to organize events, help our supporters coordinate lobby visits, work the press, run ad campaigns in key states, and more — all to sustain pressure on our leaders and win this fight.

The IPCC report underscores what all the latest climate disasters have shown us about how much this crisis is worsening. But it also tells us that we can still avert the worst of the crisis — its five future scenarios of different climate policies is clear about that. But we must take big and bold action now.  

Please, chip in today so we don’t lose this once-in-a-generation opportunity for big and bold climate action.

Thank you for joining us in this fight,

Melinda Pierce
Legislative Director
Sierra Club