The Climate Vote (7/16/23)
We are facing alarming signs of a changing climate. Last month, the skies around NYC turned to an eerie shade of orange and many of us took out our N-95 masks to walk down the street due to the poor air quality caused by Canadian wildfires. This month saw the hottest day on earth in history, a record that was broken later the same week and will be broken many times again. Ocean waters in Florida are reaching the temperature of hot tubs causing irreparable damage to coral reefs and other delicate marine ecosystems. Meanwhile, the devastating floods experienced in states like New York and Vermont demonstrate the intensifying impact of extreme weather events. And in Arizona and Texas, sweltering heatwaves are putting lives at risk, reminding us of the haunting opening chapter of The Ministry For The Future, and highlighting the urgent need for action.
While it may be tempting to succumb to climate despair, we cannot afford to do so. We also need to make clear that whatever our elected officials are doing, it's not enough.
We can and should acknowledge the climate-friendly legislation signed by President Biden in the Inflation Reduction Act, applaud him for rejoining the Paris Climate Agreement, and thank him for doing more than any other President on climate change including emphasizing the transition to renewable energy sources, investing in green infrastructure, and promoting sustainable practices across various sectors of the economy. We also need to remember that his most likely opponent (as well as most of the likely also-rans), has called climate change a hoax. But we also must criticize the administration for approving projects like the Mountain Valley Pipeline in Virginia, and push for more change from the Biden administration as well as from our local, state, and federal representatives. There is a large climate march planned for Sunday, September 17th (yes, the second day of Rosh Hashanah) in NYC. For those who don't observe the holiday and for those who do but want to pray with their feet, consider signing up.
We must vote for leaders and representatives who share our concerns about the future of the planet. When candidates come to visit us on Zoom, we always ask them about how climate change is impacting their district and what they plan to do about it. We need to keep asking these questions so that our elected officials understand that climate is a top priority for us and other voters. We need to elect policymakers who are dedicated to enacting bold and comprehensive environmental policies that will safeguard our planet for future generations. At this point, as in gun safety and reproductive freedom, there is only one party that takes climate change seriously, so as we've said before: Vote Blue No Matter Who.
Recently, we've learned about the Environmental Voter Project, an organization that focuses on the millions of Americans who care deeply about climate change and the environment but do not vote regularly. They have various actions, including targeted postcarding campaigns to these sporadic voters, and they have impressive results. As we are already committed voters and postcard writers, let's focus some of our postcard writing energy on the Environmental Voter Project. Sign up for one of their postcard training sessions:
Monday, July 17th at Noon ET: Register Here
Saturday, July 22nd at 8:30 pm ET: Register Here
The climate crisis is no longer a distant threat but a harsh reality that we witness unfolding before our eyes. We cannot afford to be complacent or apathetic, as the consequences of inaction will be catastrophic.