Climate Action for the Birds
Submitted by Susan Ludwig
Audubon science shows that nearly two-thirds of North American bird species are at risk of extinction due to climate change. Every bird species will experience some kind of impact from climate change. Birds are indicators of the health the ecosystems we share with them. We are not only in a bird emergency; we are in a people emergency.
The good news is that science also shows that if we take action now we can help improve the chances for 76% of species at risk. We already know what we need to do to help protect the birds we love. In addition to taking personal actions at home, we must urge action at state and federal levels to address the root causes of climate change
You may have heard something about a bipartisan infrastructure bill that passed the Senate and advanced in the House. There are important measures to address climate change in this bill, but the level of ambition in this bill does not meet the magnitude of the climate crisis. As a result, Democrats in the House and Senate are preparing an additional infrastructure bill to address the shortcomings they see in the bipartisan bill. They plan to pass this ambitious bill through the budget reconciliation process that requires only a simple majority to pass and therefore bipasses the filibuster.
We have been asked by the Citizens’ Climate Lobby (CCL) to help ensure that a price on carbon is included as part of this budget reconciliation infrastructure bill. Therefore we are calling on you to reach out to your member of Congress.
A Price on Carbon:
An economy-wide price on carbon will reduce America’s carbon pollution really fast. We need to price carbon if we want to hit the the goal of 50% emissions reductions in the next decade. It has to be part of any serious climate solutions. According to the Citizens’ Climate Lobby, benefits of carbon pricing include:
- Net Zero by 2050: A strong, economy-wide price on carbon could reduce America’s carbon pollution by 50% by 2030.
- Affordable Clean Energy: America leads the world with technology innovation. When government puts a price on carbon, it sends a signal through the economy. Businesses respond by becoming more energy efficient and developing new sources of clean, renewable energy.
- Saves Lives: A carbon price will save 4.5 million American lives over the next 50 years by restoring clean air across the country. It will have particular impact in communities of color, which have suffered the worst health impacts of burning fossil fuels.
- Creates Jobs: A carbon fee will incentivize innovation by America’s businesses, creating millions of new jobs that will transform our economy and put Americans back to work.
- Keeps Businesses Healthy: Businesses prefer a carbon price to other climate solutions because they remain financially stable while they adjust their operations, thanks to a predictable and gradually rising price on carbon.
- Strong Economy: A carbon fee is the best climate solution for America’s economy because it is the most cost-efficient way to lower America’s pollution.
Take Action Today:
Please call & email your Senators and your member of Congress using the CCL contact information and script for Senators and the CCL contact information and script for House Representatives. It will take all of 10 minutes of your time and it could make ALL the difference. In order for your efforts to have the desired impact, in addition to stating your name, please explain that you are a member of Denver Audubon.
Many in the climate action community believe this is the best chance we are likely to have in the next 10 years to put a price on carbon. It’s difficult to overstate how crucial this political moment is to address climate change.
