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John, I just got back from the COP27 Climate Summit in Egypt, and I wanted to share some of my reflections and experiences with you. John, there’s no doubt that we’re living in a real-time climate crisis with worsening droughts, catastrophic wildfires, and rising sea levels beginning to ravage the planet, including our North Coast. That’s why gatherings like COP27 are becoming increasingly important. This year at COP27, we did more than just promise to make changes in the future; we were able to hold our heads high, report on specific progress we’re making in keeping our climate promises, and show the world that America is back on track. With the historic Inflation Reduction Act, we made the largest-ever government investment in climate action. This is a significant step toward reducing U.S. carbon pollution, investing in zero-emission technologies, creating millions of green infrastructure manufacturing jobs, and building drought resilience. California has also been a proven leader in tackling harmful methane pollution and at COP, the Environmental Protection Agency followed suit by announcing stronger nationwide rules for cutting methane pollution. While we can be proud of our progress, we must also recognize the work still on the horizon. COP27 was a critical moment to acknowledge and respond to damage caused by climate change, which is disproportionally experienced by vulnerable developing countries. That’s why I’m urging that we fully fund international climate assistance programs and provide international support that matches our domestic climate goals. But these are only a few pieces of the puzzle. While we’ve made historic progress to build a greener future, this is by no means a “mission accomplished” moment. Climate change will take sustained, all-hands-on-deck efforts to solve. The clock is ticking, but there is still time to save the planet. And the reality is: no one should wait for the UN, or Congress, or any other institution at the national or global level to solve this problem. It’s up to all of us to come together and do our part to create a clean, green, just future that every country and generation deserves. I’m so grateful to have you with me in this fight. Let’s keep pushing forward. Onward, Jared
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