©2024 League of Conservation Voters
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Your weekly resource to learn what the environmental movement is saying about the news of the day and the political fight of our generation. Be sure to follow LCV on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
“It’s going to be ugly, and sooner rather than later it could lead to another Supreme Court intervention in a presidential election. Moore gave voters a win today, but it sets up a Supreme Court power grab down the line.”
— Richard Hansen, UCLA law professor and director of the Safeguarding Democracy Project, in an article for Slate on the implications of the SCOTUS decision in Moore v. Harper.
“It’s amazing that Republicans continue to stand in the way of our transition to clean energy, even as their states rely on clean energy.”
– Representative Frank Pallone in a tweet regarding the Texas heat wave and increased reliance on clean energy in the state.
“Deeming race irrelevant in law does not make it so in life… If the colleges of this country are required to ignore a thing that matters, it will not just go away. It will take longer for racism to leave us.”
– Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson’s opinion dissenting from the SCOTUS decision that struck down affirmative action in college admissions.
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BIDEN TOUTS ‘BIDENOMICS’ ON NATIONAL TOUR: In Chicago on Wednesday, President Biden spoke about the ways his affordable clean energy plan will play a major role in our country’s economic recovery and clean energy future. President Biden also celebrated the economic successes of his first term, including the passage of the affordable clean energy plan, which has already created hundreds of thousands of new clean energy jobs.
OUR TAKE: LCV Vice President of Federal Policy Matthew Davis said, “It’s clear that ‘Bidenomics’ means clean energy jobs, lower costs, and action on climate. The Biden-Harris administration’s affordable clean energy plan is a major piece of today’s economic recovery and tomorrow’s clean energy future – which is generating hundreds of thousands of good-paying jobs, protecting our environment, and building a stronger economy for all.
“The worst-in-the-world air quality caused by climate change-fueled wildfires that surrounds the building where President Biden is speaking today is a stark reminder that we are indeed in a climate crisis and there is still so much more to do. But while the Biden-Harris administration is getting things done–working on strong environmental safeguards, including for air quality, power plants, and vehicles, ensuring that we prioritize environmental justice and energy communities, and traveling the country to ensure people know about the benefits of their affordable clean energy plan, extreme MAGA Republican governors are attacking this progress (even while taking credit for it) and extreme MAGA Republicans in Congress are using every tool they have to try to roll back clean energy incentives in favor of more tax breaks for Big Oil and billionaires.
“As the fossil fuel industry continues to bring in record profits and drive misinformation about the economic, environmental and health impacts of the climate crisis, we will continue to fight back and hold extreme MAGA Republicans accountable for doing Big Oil’s bidding instead of protecting people and communities across our country.”
PRIDE MONTH READING: This Pride Month, read “Why Climate Justice Must Include LGBTQ+ Justice” on LCV’s blog, The Power Source. The piece highlights how LGBTQ+ community is very diverse, and those with multiple marginalized identities — like LGBTQ+ people of color — experience greater impacts of climate and environmental injustice. This means that as an environmental movement, we must fight for LGBTQ+ people of color to have access to breathe clean air, drink clean water, and vote. Read the full piece here.
SUPREME COURT RULING ON MOORE V. HARPER: The Supreme Court decided in Moore v. Harper, a North Carolina redistricting case, to reject the fringe “independent state legislature theory.” Had the theory been accepted, it would have given state legislatures power to set election rules and districts in defiance of state courts and state constitutions, effectively allowing gerrymandered legislatures to further entrench themselves against the people’s will.
NCLCV TAKE: North Carolina League of Conservation Voters Director of Governmental Relations Dan Crawford said, “Today, in a case that NCLCV has been fighting since 2021, the U.S. Supreme Court rejected the independent state legislature theory and affirmed that, in a constitutional democracy, the courts do have a role in redistricting and protecting free and fair elections. This draws into sharp contrast the blatantly partisan decision by the North Carolina Supreme Court to concede total power to the legislature to select their own voters. Without the ability for every voter to choose their representatives, our environment and all North Carolinians will be at risk to deep-pocketed polluters and power-hungry politicians.”
SUPREME COURT STRIKES DOWN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION: In a 6-3 decision on Thursday, the Supreme Court declared college affirmative action programs unconstitutional, a major blow to racial equity in higher education. LCV condemns this decision and the repercussions it might have on attempts to promote diversity in our institutes of higher learning and ladders of opportunity.
COALITION TAKE: In a coalition statement from Green 2.0, Union of Concerned Scientists, National Wildlife Federation, Greenpeace USA, NRDC, The Nature Conservancy, and LCV, the organizations said, “As environmental organizations who value diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice (DEIJ), we are deeply disappointed by the Supreme Court’s decision to strike down affirmative action programs in college admissions. These efforts have been invaluable and provably effective at increasing higher education opportunities for races, ethnicities, classes, and other identities historically shut out of the system. Equitable access to education is critical for young people who are the future of our movement and the next generation of environmental leaders.
“We stand united in support of inclusive practices to increase racial, ethnic, gender, and economic equity in schools and our own workplaces. That’s why we have invested in paid internships, fellowships, programs, and pathways for young people of color to thrive in higher education and future careers.
“Diversity and equity–both on college campuses and in organizations like ours–are good for all of us and for our environment. We cannot confront the climate crisis and protect the earth without lifting up diverse future environmental leaders and including the voices of communities of color on the frontlines of climate change. We will not let this decision undo the vital progress we’ve made so far or slow the momentum for a stronger and more equitable environmental movement.”
LCV & CA ENVIROVOTERS JOIN CALL FOR BIDEN TO EXPAND SAN GABRIEL MOUNTAINS NATIONAL MONUMENT: LCV and CA Envirovoters joined Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA), Representative Judy Chu (D-CA-28), and a coalition of Los Angeles leaders and advocates in calling on the Biden administration to expand the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument.
OUR TAKE: LCV Senior Federal Advocacy Campaigns Director Leah Donahey said, “The San Gabriel Mountains National Monument expansion will increase access to nature in one of the most dense population centers in the country while preserving plants and habitats for wildlife and conserving a critical source of water in the West. LCV looks forward to working with local partners and the Biden-Harris administration to protect this special place now and for future generations.”
CA ENVIROVOTERS TAKE: California Environmental Voters Political and Organizing Director Mike Young said, “As a habitat for countless plants and wildlife, expansion of the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument is critical to preserving biodiversity in the face of a changing climate. This is an opportunity to further preserve one-third of Los Angeles County’s clean drinking water and create additional recreational opportunities for underserved communities. We applaud the leadership of Senator Padilla and Representative Chu and call on the Biden Administration to protect our biodiversity, water, and green spaces.”
JUNE TOP 5: This month, as we celebrate Pride month and Juneteenth, we honor the many contributions of members of the Black and LGBTQ+ communities as well as the hard-won progress made by these communities on the road to equality and justice. This month, we take a look at the LCV Action Fund endorsement of the Biden-Harris campaign for reelection, explore the implications of recent SCOTUS decisions, celebrate state climate victories, and take action to protect clean water and federal clean energy investments. Read more on the top 5, listed below, here.
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COMMUNITIES CALL ON THE EPA TO FINALIZE STRONGEST POSSIBLE CARBON POLLUTION RULES: LCV’s Climate Action teams in Nevada and Pennsylvania are working to amplify the voices of community members calling for the EPA to pass stronger carbon pollution rules by next year. In Nevada, staff and volunteers made over 100 calls to neighbors and collected petitions signatures, and Climate Action Pennsylvania team member Omeed Rahin published an LTE this week in the Daily Times on the proposed EPA Rule, connecting it to the recent harmful air quality Philadelphians experienced and ending with a call to action on the current open comment period. Read the letter here.
OFFSHORE WIND PROGRESS IN NEW YORK: Last Thursday, New York governor Kathy Hochul announced a milestone for the nation’s first utility-scale offshore wind farm, South Fork Wind, when the first monopile foundation was installed. The 12-turbine project will come online by the end of this year and generate 132 MW of renewable energy – enough to power 70,000 homes. Also on Thursday, the New York Public Service Commission approved the first step to begin the construction process for transmission lines to bring offshore wind power to New York City. The transmission project is expected to be operational by January 1, 2033 and will bring up to 4.7 GW of power onshore.
CHISPA NEVADA LEADERS SPEAK UP AGAINST ENERGY RATE HIKES: On Tuesday, Chispa Nevada members along joined community leaders to express concern with the ongoing build out of fossil fuel infrastructure by NV Energy and the potential for future rate hikes as a result of the utility’s overreliance on “natural” methane gas. Check out their post here!
PROTÉGETE COMMUNITY MIXER FOR COMMUNITY LEADERS: In Colorado, Protégete kicked off their six-month fellowship program with the Boards & Commissions Fellowship Inauguration Mixer last Saturday. The fellowship program is designed to support community members and activists in reaching their leadership goals by connecting fellows with a support system of leaders in various positions of power. Check out Protégete’s post about the event here!
JULY 4: INDEPENDENCE DAY
©2024 League of Conservation Voters