{"id":21667,"date":"2021-09-02T12:33:03","date_gmt":"2021-09-02T17:33:03","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/climate411\/?p=21667"},"modified":"2021-09-02T12:51:17","modified_gmt":"2021-09-02T17:51:17","slug":"congress-its-time-for-ambitious-action-on-climate-change","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/climate411\/2021\/09\/02\/congress-its-time-for-ambitious-action-on-climate-change\/","title":{"rendered":"Congress: It\u2019s Time for Ambitious Action on Climate Change"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Photo Credit: BeyondDC<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Congress is building momentum toward bold clean energy policies that will create millions of jobs, accelerate clean energy and fight climate change. The bipartisan infrastructure deal the Senate passed in August was a positive and necessary first step. And now, we are looking forward to ambitious action that will help tackle the broad scope of the climate change crisis we all face.<\/span><\/p>\n

We are focused on ensuring Congress does not miss this historic opportunity to drive down emissions in the power and transportation sectors, particularly in ways that advance environmental justice.<\/span><\/p>\n

Clean Electricity<\/b><\/p>\n

President Biden has stated his goal for the United States to cut greenhouse gas emissions by at least 50-52% by 2030. And as <\/span>many analyses<\/span><\/a> have shown, the linchpin to reaching that target is to reduce emissions from the power sector by at least 80% below 2005 levels by 2030. <\/span>Federal lawmakers now have an opportunity to put the country on a course to reach those goals, with smart policies that will create millions of good-paying jobs in the process.<\/span><\/p>\n

The transition to clean electricity could help advance environmental justice, as well. The policies should be designed to improve <\/span>air quality and health outcomes, particularly in frontline communities living in close proximity to substantial sources of air pollutants. And one recent <\/span>study<\/span><\/a> found that in the nation as a whole, achieving an 80% clean electricity system by 2030 would prevent 93,000 premature deaths, and avoid $1.7 trillion in health and climate damages by 2050.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Here are the key clean electricity policy priorities that should be advanced by Congress.<\/span><\/p>\n