If we have any chance of stopping climate change, Biden and Congress need to keep up this pace.

John,

The climate crisis waits for no one, so neither have we. On the very first full day of Biden’s presidency, Sunrisers all over the country took action to demand the new administration keep its promises to make the fight against climate change a top priority.

Just a week later, many of the things we’ve been fighting for—in some cases for years—became law.

This is just the first of many victories to come. Join us and Rep. Rashida Tlaib tomorrow, Thursday, January 28th at 8pm Eastern / 5pm Pacific to talk about what’s next.

Black background with white text "This is just the beginning. Kickoff the decade of the Green New Deal with us." and Sunrise logo at the top

Our organizing is working. Today, Biden announced a commitment to society-wide mobilization to stop climate change, create millions of good jobs, and roll back centuries of systemic environmental racism. Some concrete victories today include:

  • Establishment of a White House Office of Domestic Climate Policy and National Climate Task Force with the full mandate and scope of powers and authority we called for in an Office of Climate Mobilization
  • Creation of a Civilian Climate Corps modeled after the New Deal’s Civilian Conservation Corps to put Americans to work in government jobs tackling the climate crisis
  • Commitment to a whole-of-government approach to Environmental Justice, including delivering 40% of climate investments to frontline communities, the creation of two new interagency councils and agency offices of environmental justice, and plans to update key environmental justice regulations, all of which have been top priorities for environmental justice leaders and communities for years 
  • Pledge to use the federal government's buying power to raise labor standards while  purchasing carbon pollution-free electricity and clean, zero-emission vehicles and spurring job creation in green construction, manufacturing, engineering, and skilled trades by ensuring that every federal infrastructure investment reduces climate pollution 
  • Direction to Secretary of Agriculture to work alongside farmers and ranchers to support sustainable agriculture and create new sources of jobs and wealth in rural America
  • Creation of an interagency working group to ensure economic development and a just transition for fossil fuel communities
  • Plans to review all fossil fuel leasing on federal lands and waters and stop all new leasing.
  • Direction for federal agencies to eliminate fossil fuel subsidies to the extent possible under law

This is a lot. And it’s not even everything. These actions make clear that Biden hears our generation’s demands loud and clear, understands the power of our movement, and is serious about using executive power to deliver on his campaign promises.

We’re well on our way to establishing the framework of a Green New Deal in everything but name. But we cannot let our guard down. The point of no return for climate change is fast approaching and, if we have any chance of stopping it, Biden and Congress need to keep up this pace.

Click here to sign up for tomorrow’s virtual event and learn what our role will be as we continue to push for change in these first hundred days of the new administration.

This is our moment. Let’s keep it up.

Lauren