Climate action advocates are urging voters to stop the anti-climate, pro-fossil fuels agenda our country faces by voting for candidate who believe in the urgency of climate change.
With the newly released United Nations report that uncovers an urgent need to reduce carbon emissions by 40 to 50 percent by 2030 to keep the planet from warming more than 1.5 degrees Celsius or 2.7 degrees Fahrenheit above pre-industrial levels, the midterm election can help the U.S. combat the climate crisis and be a leader in this new era.
“There’s too much at stake in this year’s elections to NOT do everything we can,” 350 Action, the U.S. political advocacy arm of the global climate group, said. “If you’re a climate voter, get out there and VOTE – but if you can, don’t stop there. Make calls. Knock doors. Talk to friends. Take action like the planet depends on it. Because it does.”
Greenpeace and other groups are urging for a united effort to #VoteClimate by voting for candidates who support renewable energy rather than fossil fuel dependence and ballot initiatives that will strengthen environmental regulations, Common Dreams reported.
“We have 10 years to save the world from climate catastrophe,” Annie Leonard, executive director of Greenpeace USA, said. “We can start by voting on November 6th for candidates who believe in the urgency of climate change and have solid plans for keeping fossil fuels in the ground, accelerating a just transition to a clean energy economy, and increasing democratic participation. The more people in politics who are committed to swift and meaningful climate action and reject new fossil fuel infrastructure, the better.”
A few ballot measures that support the strengthening of environmental regulations include:
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Alaska – Permits and Protection Standards for Alaska Salmon Initiative,Ballot Measure No. 1
- Arizona – 50 Percent Renewable Energy Standard by 2030 Amendment,
Proposition 127
- California – Water Infrastructure, Supply and Watershed Protection Bond Initiative, Proposition 3
- Washington, D.C. – Fee on Carbon Emissions Initiative, Initiative 1631
and Advisory Question on Oil Spill Tax, Advisory Question 19
- Colorado – Require Minimum Distance from Occupied Buildings and Other Areas for New Oil and Gas Mining Projects Initiative, Proposition 112
- Connecticut – Require Public Hearings on Sale of Certain State-Owned Property and Two-Thirds Vote to Authorize Sale or Transfer Amendment, Amendment 2
- Florida – Prohibition of Offshore Oil and Gas Drilling and Prohibition on Vaping in Enclosed Indoor Workplaces Amendment, Constitutional Revision 4
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Georgia – Alterations and Commercial Additions to State Forest Land Conservation Policies Amendment, Amendment
- Maine – Wastewater Infrastructure Bond, Question 2
- Portland, Oregon – Measure 26-201, a city measure to collect a 1 percent surcharge from billion dollar businesses to help fund green initiatives
“People in this country have been working nonstop for the past two years to resist Trump’s destructive agenda and build a better democracy,” Leonard said. “Now is the time to elect new leaders who will join the people and get to work fighting for climate, racial, and economic justice.”
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