Many Americans believe too many years have passed without taking meaningful steps to curtail global warming. Solid efforts have been made by most states and many individuals to recycle, cut greenhouse gasses, transition to clean fuels and reduce our carbon footprint. However, most feel global warming cannot be solved except by massive national mobilization and a dedicated commitment to this goal. Some have compared such an effort to the mobilization assembled to defeat the Nazis. However, due to political gridlock and internal division, our federal government has been unable to provide enough leadership during these pivotal times. In addition, distrustful of scientific data, some politicians do not acknowledge a climate crisis exists, or that mankind has caused it, or that its worse effects can be prevented.

Many advocates claim we’re riding a runaway train with limited time to stop this existential crisis, and that this time is growing shorter each year. If we are to avoid the worst impacts of climate change by limiting global warming to 2.6 degrees Fahrenheit by the end of the century, we only have 7 years left to drastically cut carbon emissions. Should average temperatures climb much above 2.6, we’ll find ourselves living on a much hotter planet with much larger storms, fires, hurricanes, floods, droughts, shortages and wars than we are today.

Opponents of mass-mobilization say the costs will be too high, the sacrifices too great. Proponents say we have no choice but to conquer this existential threat because failure to do so is not an option. We may be condemning mankind’s future generations to a hellish existence if we do not wean ourselves from fossil fuels now.

Proposed Resolution: Reintroduction of H.Res.319 - Recognizing the duty of the Federal Government to create a Green New Deal (118th Congress 2023-2024)
Prospective Sponsor: Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY)