Climate Change

Climate Change represented by a split image of a healthy tree and a dead tree

Human activities, primarily the burning of fossil fuels, are warming our planet and changing our climate at a rate that cannot be attributed to natural variations. We are already feeling the effects of climate change in the form of warmer temperatures, extreme weather variations, rising seas, and ocean acidification. Comprehensive climate solutions are available to us today. Clean energy, energy efficiency, sustainable agriculture, and lower carbon transportation systems are possibilities right now, with existing technology. Growing an innovation economy will help to accelerate the deployment of these solutions while continuing to lower costs. Climate change is problem we cannot and should not neglect. Nearly every country on the planet, including the U.S., China, and India, have signed the Paris Climate Agreement to act on climate. If we continue to ignore the threats posed by climate change, we risk serious damage to our national and economic security, international collaboration, and the health and safety of our children, grandchildren, and all future generations.

More on Climate Change

Oct 6, 2015
SEEC Member Statement on Final Ozone Standards

Today, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released strengthened National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for ozone pollution, the main ingredient in smog. The EPA has announced an ozone standard of 70 parts per billions (ppb), an improvement over the current standard of 75 ppb which is widely considered by the medical community to inadequately protect public health. SEEC members released the following statement:

Oct 01, 2015
Despite the Pope's Pleas, Congress Resists Action on Climate Change | By SEEC Member Rep. Ted Lieu (D-CA) & Greg Dotson

By SEEC Member Rep. Ted Lieu (D-CA) & Greg Dotson

takepart
The urgency to act on climate has been recognized by a diverse group of global leaders, from Ronald Reagan’s secretary of state, George Schultz, to President Barack Obama to the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff to Pope Francis. But despite this growing global consensus on the need to arrest climate change, the Republican leaders who control Congress remain unwilling to act.
Aug 3, 2015
Statement on the Clean Power Plan

Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) releases the final version of the Clean Power Plan, which will place the first ever limits on carbon pollution from power plants. SEEC Members released the following statement:

Jun 18, 2015
Pope Francis and the movement to act on climate
The Hill
By SEEC Member Rep. Ted Lieu (CA-33) | What do Pope Francis, the United States military and former Secretary of State George Shultz have in common? They all believe climate change is real, mostly caused by humans and responsible for the unprecedented destruction of our planet’s precious ecosystems.
Jun 18, 2015
Statement on Pope’s Encyclical on Climate Change and the Environment

Washington D.C. – Today, Pope Francis–the leader of more than 1 billion Catholics worldwide–released a papal encyclical, “Laudato Si, On the Care of our Common Home”. The encyclical echoes what we already know, the climate is changing and human actions, especially the unmitigated burning of fossil fuels, are the cause. The encyclical goes on to urge the world’s governments to act, calling on developed nations to lead, citing the disproportionate impacts that climate change will have on the world’s poor and those living in developing countries.

Jun 2, 2015
SEEC Member Blumenauer Organizes Effort on House Floor to Underscore Importance of Funding Climate Research

Washington, D.C. – Today, as the U.S. House of Representative considers H.R. 2578, Commerce, Justice, Science Appropriations Act, Representative Earl Blumenauer (OR-03) organized an effort on the House floor to highlight the importance of funding climate research. Representative Blumenauer, Representative Jared Polis (CO-02) and other members of the House Sustainable Energy & Environment Coalition (SEEC) offered two amendments underscoring the importance of climate research within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

Apr 22, 2015
Earth Day 2015
SEEC Members are working year round to support clean air, clean water, and climate action. On Earth Day 2015 they introduced legislation, recorded videos, wrote op-eds, and made statements to celebrate.
Apr 10, 2015
California Environmental Champion Rep. Ted Lieu Joins SEEC

The House Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition (SEEC) is pleased to welcome Congressman Ted Lieu (CA-33) to its membership.

Apr 09, 2015
California Leads the Way Forward, Again

SEEC Vice-Chair Alan Lowenthal (CA-47)

Huffington Post
By SEEC Vice-Chair Alan Lowenthal (CA-47)| While many members of Congress remain wary of the costs of reducing climate change pollution, they need look no further than the largest state economy in our nation for a perfect example of how to take action.
Mar 31, 2015
Statement on U.S. Submission to United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change

Washington, D.C.– Today, the United States submitted to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) a goal to reduce our greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 26-28 percent below 2005 emission levels by 2025. The goal submitted is consistent with GHG reductions included in last year’s U.S.-China joint announcement on climate change.

SEEC Members released the following statement:

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