We’re now a few months into the Biden Administration, and so far they’ve prioritized climate action.
On Day One of his presidency, President Biden recommitted the U.S. to the Paris Climate Agreement. Since then, President Biden signed an executive order to protect 30% of lands and waters by 2030 and released the American Jobs Plan with climate action and racial justice at the center of his plan for economic growth. President Biden also appointed climate champion Secretary Deb Haaland to run the Department of Interior (DOI), an agency crucial to our movement.
The Biden Administration must keep this momentum going if we as a country are to lead on climate, protect public health, and avert the impacts of the climate crisis. However, this work can’t be completed without your help.
In January, the administration took critical first steps by pausing oil and gas leasing pending a long-overdue climate review of the federal fossil fuel programs. However, this is a temporary fix.
Pollution from the world’s current producing oil and gas fields are already pushing our country towards disaster, with warming expected to up past 1.5 Celsius. Any new oil, gas, or coal leasing on public lands and waters will only exacerbate the problem.
It is time to finally phase out fossil fuel development on our public lands and waters.
Doing so will ensure clean air and water for low income communities and communities of color while protecting our lands for future generations to enjoy. This will also trigger innovation and job creation as our country shifts to a clean energy economy. In California, ending fossil fuel development will protect parks and public lands for healthy use and recreation.
As the DOI reviews its federal fossil fuel programs, we now have the opportunity to make sure our voices are heard. The DOI will accept public comments on its federal fossil fuel program until April 15, and anyone can participate.
Californians know all too well the threat oil and gas fields pose to public health. Communities are already suffering from living close near these sites, with health risks including cancer, respiratory illnesses, pre-term birth risks and high-risk pregnancies.
To keep up the drumbeat, we need you to submit your comments to the DOI as they determine our country’s path forward. This will help inform the DOI’s report while they consider this monumental decision. Each comment can make the difference between averting the devastating impacts of the climate crisis or going backwards from where we need to be.
Protecting our state’s lands and resources from corporate polluters depends on your voice. In order to make this happen, we need you and your friends, family, and community to tell Secretary Haaland and the DOI to end fossil fuel development.
We need all hands on deck if we want to mitigate the public health crisis and protect 30% of our lands and waters by 2030. For the sake of our communities and our future, we must act now.
