Lately, the U.S. has been dealing with rising temperatures, failing infrastructure, and increasingly frequent climate emergencies. Over the past few weeks, we have seen the disastrous consequences of ignoring the climate crisis. From dangerous heat waves to flooding in our mass transit system — the worst impacts of the climate crisis are already beginning.
President Biden made “build back better” an integral part of his campaign last year and is continuing to prioritizing it as President. Earlier this year, he laid out his vision for building back better from the COVID-19 pandemic — with tackling climate change a top priority in our recovery.
Now, Congress is negotiating legislation to make his vision a reality. NYLCV is part of a multi-state coalition that is working to hold Congress accountable to the climate, clean energy, justice, and jobs commitments made in President Biden’s original Build Back Better proposal for America’s economic and climate recovery in a post-COVID world. We are advocating for legislation that will invest in climate, clean energy, environmental justice, and jobs at the scale science and our communities demand.
Climate action and economic recovery go hand-in-hand. The coalition is calling on Congress to create millions of good quality, high-paying green jobs that modernize our energy, transportation, and water infrastructure while investing in people and communities who too often have faced exclusion and disinvestment.
Investments in clean energy infrastructure will create green jobs with family-sustaining wages, grow our local economy, reduce our reliance on fossil fuels, and cut harmful air pollution. Prioritizing just and equitable solutions will benefit frontline communities most impacted by legacy pollution and the disruptive effects of climate change- low-income communities and communities of color – and commit to investing in these communities.
New York State has long been a leader in climate action. Now, we need Congress to lead.