In response to President Biden’s remarks tonight during the State of The Union address, Evergreen Action Executive Director Jamal Raad released the following statement:

“Tonight, President Biden correctly highlighted that a bold investment in clean energy will save Americans money and tackle climate change. As the IPCC report warned earlier this week, our window of opportunity to stave off catastrophic and irreversible climate impacts is closing rapidly. We cannot afford to miss this moment. President Biden and Congressional leaders must make it the number one legislative priority to pass the climate investments from the Build Back Better Act. These climate provisions already have the support of 50 Senators; and they will lower electricity costs, address climate change, and weaken the power of fossil-fueled dictators like Vladimir Putin. 

“But at a time when scientists are warning that we face a ‘grave and mounting’ threat from climate change, we must do more to capture the urgency of this crisis. We know that legislation alone won’t be enough to fulfill President Biden’s climate commitments. As he works with Congress to secure a deal for transformative climate investments, the president must also use every authority in his own toolbox to enact a suite of executive actions on climate this year. 

“By delivering on his climate agenda, President Biden can drive down energy costs at home, lead the charge away from the fossil fuels that enable petro-dictators abroad, and ensure we prevent the worst impacts of climate change. He must meet this moment with bold, decisive action to address the crises we face.”

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