Tell Your PA Rep: Oppose Attack on Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative—Act Now

From PennEnvironment (http://www.pennenvironment.org):

As the nation is enveloped in a sweltering heat wave, we’re reminded that we are running out of time to address the climate crisis. 2020 is already on track to be among the top five hottest years ever recorded.¹

That’s why it’s outrageous that a group of politicians in Harrisburg are pushing legislation that would prevent Pennsylvania from joining one of the nation’s most successful programs for reducing carbon pollution from dirty power plants: the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI).

Tell your state representative to oppose any attack on this critical climate program at https://pennenvironment.webaction.org/p/dia/action4/common/public/?action_KEY=38976.

It’s become increasingly apparent that politicians of all shades and stripes are in no rush to pass policies that will reduce climate pollution. That’s why I was relieved to hear Governor Wolf’s announcement last fall that Pennsylvania would join RGGI.

Yet instead of embracing this action, legislators in Harrisburg responded by swiftly introducing proposals to strip Gov. Wolf’s authority to opt Pennsylvania into this program. One of these proposals, House Bill 2025, is slated for a vote in the legislature this week.

Tell your state legislator to oppose this irresponsible proposal today.

Since its inception in 2008, RGGI has an incredible track record of success: participating states from New England and the Mid-Atlantic saw their carbon emissions drop by 47% over the past twelve years. It’s estimated that Pennsylvania could reduce its climate pollution by millions of tons–in the first few years of the program alone.2

With a track record like this, we need our politicians to support RGGI and fight climate change — not continue the status quo and kick the can down the road.

It’s critical for your state representative to understand that Pennsylvanians like you and me oppose this attack — and that their constituents expect them to take action to reduce climate pollution. Send a message to them today.

Joining RGGI is just the first step in Pennsylvania’s fight against climate change. But we can’t let polluters and their political allies in Harrisburg stand in the way of climate progress.

Thank you for standing up for our climate.

1. Jeff Bererdelli, “2020 likely to be the warmest year on record globally,” CBS News, June 15, 2020.
2. Devashee Saha and Dan Lashof, “Pennsylvania is joining RGGI. Here’s Why That Matters,” WRI, Oct 10, 2019.