EESI Impact 12 - August 2022 | Newsletter

Congress Comes Through... But There's Much More To Do!

From the Executive Director, Daniel Bresette

After more than a year of “will they, won’t they” drama and intrigue, Congress finally sent a historic package of climate investments to President Biden for signature on August 12. The $369 billion bill—known as the Inflation Reduction Act—will reduce carbon emissions by about 40 percent by 2030, which puts our Paris Agreement goals within reach.

In this era of “hot takes” and memes, nuance can be hard to come by. But that is our job at EESI—to provide nonpartisan, science-based educational resources for policymakers.

Yes, Congress just approved the largest climate bill of all time. But it is also an incomplete package insufficient to fully address the climate crisis.

In addition to enacting new policies and investments in climate adaptation and community resilience, for example, we must ensure that the $369 billion in climate provisions are implemented quickly and fairly. We need more targeted investments that advance environmental justice. Those are tall orders, and I am glad that you are a key partner in achieving our vision of a sustainable, resilient, and equitable world.

Thanks for your commitment to advancing climate change solutions.