The Climate Emergency

Democrats Abroad advocates for urgent action to address the existential crisis of climate change. Americans living overseas bear direct witness and suffer the consequences of the global climate emergency; from the melting Arctic ice caps to the sinking islands of the Pacific to the pervasive and increasing fires and floods devastating the earth. We also understand that the U.S., as the 2nd largest carbon emitting nation, must also lead the world in its policies and actions to achieve a sustainable future for all. From this unique vantage point, Democrats Abroad place climate and environmental policy as a priority in getting out the U.S. vote for Democratic candidates.

The 2022 IPCC report (International Governmental Panel on Climate Change) warns that “Human-induced climate change is causing dangerous and widespread disruption in nature and affecting the lives of billions of people around the world. People and ecosystems least able to cope are being hardest hit.” Global warming exceeding 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels by 2025 would cause unavoidable increases in climate hazards and present manifold irreversible risks for human life, biodiversity, and infrastructure. The imperative for more ambitious and accelerated action to dramatically reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to current climate change conditions has never been clearer.

Our Goals

As a signatory of the legally-binding Paris Climate Agreement, the United States committed to “limit global warming to well below 2, preferably to 1.5 degrees Celsius, compared to pre-industrial levels” and “build resilience to adapt to the impacts of rising temperatures.” To achieve these goals, the U.S. and the global community must adopt climate change mitigation and adaptation measures to curb greenhouse gas emissions and to ensure environmental justice, especially for vulnerable communities, as they suffer the inevitable ravages of climate change. U.S. agencies must address and mitigate the disproportionate impact of environmental and human health hazards on indigenous peoples, LBGTQ+, black, brown, disabled, women in general, and on the impoverished. We also must provide adequate financial resources to the developing world to alleviate energy poverty and adapt to climate change impacts.

Urgent Call to Action

The Biden-Harris administration has taken impressive steps by rejoining the Paris Climate Agreement, establishing the U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Climate and the White House Environmental Justice Interagency Council (IAC), passing the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, Inflation Reduction Act, and CHIPS and Science Act, as well as ratifying the Kigali Agreement. Nevertheless, the global community and the United States are still on course to greatly exceed safe limits on greenhouse gas emissions. We must do more now to stop the remaining carbon excesses domestically and halt support of all new fossil fuel infrastructure. As a global frontrunner in carbon emissions, we must now lead in the just transition to a renewable energy economy.

Increasingly, we are at risk of not meeting Administration goals of reducing emissions by 50-52% by 2030. We urge the President to declare a National Climate Emergency under the National Emergencies Act, which will build on our historic legislation addressing the climate crisis, both in the United States and globally. Such a declaration will unlock key statutory powers to further address this crisis by, for example, reinstating the crude oil export ban, investing further in large-scale climate resiliency and mitigation efforts, and expanding renewable energy and transportation.

What You Can Do

Sign our 2022 DA ECCC National Climate Emergency Petition.

Track U.S. Climate Change Legislation.

Write your federal, state, and local representatives.

Take steps in your everyday lives to limit your carbon footprints.

Join the ECCC, questions or want to help?

Join the Democrats Abroad Environment & Climate Crisis Council or contact us at [email protected]