Greetings sunshine! Save Our Happy Place is your go to source for timely, pointed climate activism. Squeeze in a little weekly climate action with us, and know you are doing your part to Save Our Happy Places with hearts filled with positivity & hope!
Earth to COP26
Join the People’s Climate Summit
Protesters rally in Glasgow, Scotland. Photo: Jane Barlow
Who, what, when, where, why, how?
As we enter the second week of COP26, a conference of world leaders convened to discuss how to address the climate crisis, many have grown disillusioned by the ‘piecemeal’ promises made by politicians and the entities that got us into this mess to begin with. Over the weekend, more than 100,000 people took to the streets in Glasgow, Scotland demanding climate justice and crying out in protest for world leaders to provide the global south, Indigenous communities, women and youth a seat at the table.
How can we bring more equity to climate conversations?
Join the People’s Climate Summit online from November 7-10, to build a powerful system of change together.
On Friday, our efforts paid off! The House of Representatives passed the $1.2 Trillion Infrastructure Bill. While it is definitely a more subdued version of the American Jobs Plan first presented in March, turnkey climate policy was part of the bill.
The Good Stuff
$39 billion Transit
$66 billion Amtrak & Rail Systems
$7.5 billion Electric Vehicle Chargers
$5 billion Clean Buses
$50 billion Water Resilience
$55 billion Drinking Water
$21 billion Environmental Remediation
$73 billion Power & Clean Energy
What’s Next?
The Infrastructure Bill alone will not lower the U.S.’s greenhouse gas emissions enough to meet the range designated by the Paris Climate Agreement. We must not lose momentum! The bits of the Build Back Better Act that were included as part of the Budget Reconciliation Bill is the other piece of the puzzle and we will still need to pass them.
3 Ways to Urge Congress to Pass the Build Back Better Act
What? Sign petition with Berggruen Institute to deliver to the United Nations, President Biden, and the US Congress a resolution demanding the creation and funding of a civilian climate corp.
Why? Institutions and governments have not taken the action needed to avert the worst impacts of climate change and missed the mark on the intersecting issues of racial justice and economic inequality. A civilian climate corp would ensure intersectionality and climate justice as we transition to a more sustainable world in partnership with the Build Back Better Act.
How? Click link to sign petition (Estimated 1 minute)
Call Your Representatives Demanding They Pass Climate Policy
What? Call your representatives now to demand they bring the Build Back Better Act through the Budget Reconciliation Bill to the floor and pass it!
Why? The Build Back Better Act is our last, best chance to tackle the climate crisis at the scale science demands -- without costing working families a cent.
How? Click the link, fill out the form, and a text with instruction will connect you directly to your representative. (Estimated 5 minutes)
Tell President Biden You Demand Bold Action on Climate
What? Message President Biden to show support for the steps he has already taken to combat climate change while also demanding he do more.
Why? The good news is that we have a president who is ready to take bold steps to address the climate crisis. And with pro-environment majorities in both houses of Congress, now is our time to act.
How? Click link to message Biden (Estimated 1 minute)
Check out this video from Rainn Wilson (Dwight Shrute from The Office) as he embarks on a quest towards meaningful climate action. No matter your career, be it a self-proclaimed “unemployed actor” or beet farmer, we all have a place in the climate movement.
Some Rays of Sunshine
The Headlines We’re Happy to See: COP26 Edition
Photo by Ian Chris Graham
The below are exciting, promising commitments and pledges made by world leaders at COP26. The execution of these will require us to continue holding them accountable.
Countries end financing of international fossil fuel projects - Read More
Financial institutions pledge to fund climate action - Read More
46 countries will end coal investments in the next 30 years - Read More
“Don’t lose heart. Don’t lose hope. Keep raising your voices. Keep putting pressure on world leaders. If we pull together, if we show solidarity, if we work together, we can save the planet for future generations to come. Let hope replace the fears of the younger generations.” - Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon @ COP26
woo!! looks great.