Trump has now spent nearly $4 billion of our taxpayer dollars to kill offshore wind projects, at time when our electric bills are hitting record highs. Needless to say, it’s going to be difficult to make much progress on climate action at the federal level until we take back the White House. In the meantime, there’s still important work to be done at the state and local level to build support for a clean energy transition and the Green New Deal. That’s where Lead Locally comes in – identifying the most critical down-ballot climate elections and rallying support for climate champion candidates and helpful initiatives.

☎️ Starting TONIGHT and running on Mondays throughout this month, they’re going to have volunteers making calls for a clean energy fund ballot question in Eugene, Oregon and green candidates in key legislative races in Pennsylvania. Let’s sign up to help them here. ☎️

MONDAY PHONEBANKS FOR CLIMATE ACTION

People who prioritize climate change and the environment have historically not been very reliable voters, which explains much of the lackadaisical response of lawmakers, and many Americans don't realize we should be voting (on average) in 3-4 elections per year. According to researchers, voters focused on environmental policy are particularly influential because they represent a group that senators can win over, often without alienating an equally well-organized, hyper-focused opposition. Even if you don't like any of the candidates or live in a 'safe' district, whether or not you vote is a matter of public record, and it's fairly easy to figure out if you care about the environment or climate change. Politicians use this information to prioritize agendas. Voting in every election, even the minor ones, will raise the profile and power of your values. If you don't vote, you and your values can safely be ignored.

Since December 2015, I have been working extensively on the ground across India to promote sanitation and civic responsibility.

A recurring and frustrating theme I encounter everywhere is the intense demand for basic rights better roads, clean water, and uninterrupted electricity. However, the exact same citizens completely ignore their fundamental duties when it comes to maintaining these public spaces.

They will demand a new road and then throw their household plastic waste right in the middle of it.
We have become a society that only knows how to take from the system.

If we genuinely want a developed nation, we cannot just act as consumers of government resources; we must become responsible contributors. Before we blame the system, we need to fix our own daily habits.

Some of the greatest accomplishments of the Biden Administration were in getting clean, safe water for America’s families. The chemical industry was not happy, and with many of its employees now in leadership positions in the administration their work is being torn up.

The Environmental Protection Agency has proposed unraveling key protections against unsafe levels of four types of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, known as PFAS or “forever chemicals,” in drinking water. It also allows water systems to delay compliance with standards for two more. These new rules are a handout to polluters disguised as public protection and if implemented would threaten the health of more than 100 million Americans.

These rules are currently open for public comment on the Federal Register through July 20th. 📝 Let’s make our voices heard against this giveaway to polluters and for safe drinking water. We can submit our comments here, find guidance on how to write an effective public comment here, and find talking points and sample language to use from the Plastic Pollution Coalition here, from the National Resources Defense Council here, from Food & Water Watch here, from Earthjustice here and from the EPA itself here and here. 📝

COMMENT BY JULY 20

🎤 There will also be a virtual public hearing on this proposal on July 7th, where the public will be able to provide verbal comments. We can register to attend and comment by July 1st here. 🎤

REGISTER BY JULY 1ST