The Union of Concerned Scientists is warning us that We can't let politics get in the way of swift climate action and are asking that we write our senator today. Please tell your senators to urge Senate leadership to act now to break this impasse.
This week, Senators John Kerry (D-MA), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), and Joseph Lieberman (I-CT) were on the verge of introducing climate and energy legislation when a political disagreement between Graham and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) led to an unnecessary delay.Senate leadership must not to let political differences on unrelated issues impede swift passage of comprehensive climate and energy legislation. Please tell your senator to urge Senate leadership to act now to break this impasse.
It is easy enough to take this action as they provide you the basic language for the email. I know that both my two senators have supported these efforts so I recognize that when I write to them. I also make it a habit to throw in something about the Millennium Development Goals in this case Millennium Goal 7. Environmental Sustainability. Here is my letter.
Dear Senator
I know that you have done a tremendous amount of work in this area already. Yet despite the latest science pointing to ever more dire and costly consequences of global warming we still can't come to a consensus for action even in our own country. What hope does the world then have to achieve global goals such as environmental sustainability under the Millennium Development Goals. We can't afford to wait any longer for passage of comprehensive climate and energy legislation.
The federal report, Global Climate Change Impacts in the United States, warns that unabated global warming will likely lead to water shortages, loss of species, hazards to coasts from sea level rise, and an increase in severity of extreme weather events. The latest science indicates that spring is now arriving 10 days earlier and that there will be much greater sea level rise than previously expected.
The tireless work of Senators John Kerry, Lindsey Graham, and Joseph Lieberman is proof that bipartisan success is well within reach. We have never been so close to putting this country on track to dramatically cut heat-trapping emissions and jumpstart a clean energy economy.
I am asking you to keep pressing forward on this very important issue.
Brian Dowling