World Wildlife Fund

The Issue and Latest Status

In June, the House of Representatives voted to pass landmark legislation to tackle climate change, jumpstart our economy and begin building America’s clean energy future. This fall, the Senate needs to take up similar legislation and pass a strong bill in advance of international climate change negotiations in Copenhagen in December.

The urgency for passing this legislation is clearly articulated in a groundbreaking new report recently released by the White House, which shows conclusively that climate change is already altering the landscape of America and causing significant and dangerous impacts in every region of our country. The report eliminates any speculation as to the severity and urgency of the climate crisis. It clearly illustrates the enormous--potentially catastrophic--costs of inaction.

By passing strong climate and energy legislation, Congress can jumpstart America’s clean energy economy, greatly reduce the pollution that is causing climate change, and secure our planet for future generations. The House bill, which is called the American Clean Energy and Security Act, takes strong steps in this direction. It will help break our addiction to oil and keep our nation competitive by ensuring that our country leads the way in clean energy technology. And it invests in global solutions by helping less developed countries reduce their emissions, protect their forests, and adapt to the inevitable climate change impacts that threaten to impoverish their economies, destabilize their societies and, in the case of some small island states, even wipe them off the map.

The good news is that we can avoid the most severe consequences if we begin taking action now. By passing strong climate and energy legislation, Congress will take an important first step to protect our nation from further damage from climate change, while at the same time putting America on the path toward a cleaner, safer, more secure and more prosperous future. The transition to a clean energy economy will put America back to work building wind turbines, solar panels, and energy efficient vehicles. We’ll create new exports and make our nation less dependent on the dirty, imported fuels that are destroying our planet. And we will help ensure a safe future for our children and grandchildren.

Every vote will be critical in determining whether or not Congress acts on climate change legislation this year. Please pick up the phone, call 1-866-220-0044 and ask for your senator. You can also email your your members of Congress and urge them to help pass a strong climate and energy bill this year.

What's at Stake

The evidence of climate change is all around us. Wildfires are increasing. Sea levels are rising. Droughts are intensifying. Floods are become more common and more severe. Temperatures are getting hotter. The very character of the states and cities we call home is changing.

By the middle of this century, some areas of the U.S. may no longer be able to produce apples and maple syrup. New Hampshire’s climate may more closely resemble that of North Carolina. The East Coast could experience up to four feet of sea level rise, placing huge swaths of the Gulf Coast and Atlantic seaboard under water. Beetle infestations could destroy much of the forest cover from Colorado to Montana. Growing crops and raising cattle will become much more challenging in many places. Heat waves and disease outbreaks will claim the lives of many Americans.

How You Can Help

U.S. activists, call 1-866-220-0044 and ask to speak with your senator . You can also email in support of strong clean energy and climate change legislation.
- To have more impact, add your own thoughts to your message. 

If you have any questions or problems with taking action, contact WWF at actionnetwork@wwfus.org

Learn More

• Check out our new interactive climate map to see how you may be affected by climate change.
• Read the new report--released June 16, 2009 by the White House--which marks the first conclusive statement by the U.S. government that climate change is having a direct and significant impact on the American people.

Please make your voice heard. Tell your members of Congress to support strong clean energy and climate change legislation.

Sincerely,

Richard H. Moss, PhD
Vice President and Managing Director
Climate Change
World Wildlife Fund