Energy and Environment

Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi leads a Congressional delegation to the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP27) in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt. Pelosi conveyed the United States Congress’ commitment to working with global partners to advance a healthier, more sustainable and more equitable future for all.

The climate crisis is the existential threat of our time – and our future depends on taking action now.  As the climate crisis accelerates, we face what the United Nations calls Code Red for Humanity: with extreme weather devastating communities around the world and here at home, while disproportionately impacting our most vulnerable communities.  Californians are acutely aware of the climate crisis’ impacts, as we continue to experience life-threatening wildfires, severe droughts and record-high temperatures.

Democrats know that combating the climate crisis is a public health necessity to safeguard our clean air and clean water; an economic imperative to create good-paying green jobs and ensure America’s global preeminence in green technology; a national security priority to prevent global instability; and a moral responsibility to advance a cleaner, healthier future for generations to come.

That is why, last year, I led a Congressional delegation to the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Glasgow, where the world came together to set visionary new goals for our collective fight against the climate crisis. 

Committed to ensuring America leads that global effort – and inspired by tireless activists across the country – House Democrats proudly delivered the largest climate investment in U.S. history.  Our Inflation Reduction Act includes historic environmental investments:

• Slashing carbon pollution by 40 percent before 2030. 
• Lowering energy costs by investing in energy efficient homes, vehicles and appliances.
• Strengthening energy security by bringing clean energy manufacturing to American shores and creating millions of good-paying jobs.
• Decarbonizing our economy, substantially reducing pollution from electricity production, transportation, industrial manufacturing, buildings and agriculture.
• Investing over $60 billion in environmental justice priorities to ensure that underserved communities share in the benefits of our transition to a clean economy.

These transformative investments are building on the groundwork laid by last year’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which secured funding to:

• Deliver clean water to American families and help get the lead out of our children’s drinking water.
• Reduce greenhouse emissions by expanding sustainable transportation, including electric vehicle infrastructure.
• Clean up legacy pollution that disproportionately harms communities of color.
• Upgrade our power infrastructure to deliver clean, reliable energy and deploy technology to achieve a net-zero emissions future.
• Strengthen our infrastructure’s resilience against extreme weather.

Through one of his first actions in office, President Biden signaled the United States’ commitment to fighting the climate crisis – rejoining the Paris Agreement and re-engaging with the global community.  And Democrats will not relent until we realize President Biden’s ambitious vision of achieving a carbon neutral economy by 2050. 

In contrast, with its recent decision restricting the Environmental Protection Agency’s ability to protect families from pollution by coal companies, the Republican-appointed supermajority on the Supreme Court has dangerously and disgracefully chosen to defy the will of the Congress, endanger the well-being of American families and fuel climate catastrophe for generations to come.  Powered by the voices of Americans across the country demanding climate action, House Democrats remain committed to ensuring the EPA can follow the science For the Children, For The Planet and For the People.

Learn more about the American Clean Energy and Security Act>>

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