,,iii #aafth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 ,,con4 ,,res4 #dg ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,september #bc1 #bjbj,mr4 ,merkley 7for himself1 ,mr4 ,booker1 ,mr4 ,markey1 ,mr4 ,wyden1 ,mr4 ,van ,hollen1 ,mrs4 ,murray1 ,mr4 ,heinrich1 and ,mr4 ,whitehouse7 submitted the following concurrent resolution2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,environment and ,public ,works ,,concurrent ,,resolution ,recognizing that the climate crisis is disproportionately affecting the health1 economic opportunity1 and fundamental rights of children1 expressing the sense of ,congress that renewed leadership by the ,united ,states is needed to address the climate crisis1 and recognizing the need of the ,united ,states to develop a national1 comprehensive1 and science-based climate recovery plan to phase out fossil fuel emissions1 protect and enhance natural sequestration1 and put the ,united ,states on a path toward stabilizing the climate system4 ,whereas a stable climate system at the founding of the ,united ,states allowed human life and human civilization to flourish2 ,whereas the ,united ,states was founded on the deeply rooted principle of securing the ,blessings of ,liberty to ourselves and our ,posterity2 ,whereas the ,constitution of the ,united ,states protects the fundamental rights to life1 liberty1 property1 and equal protection of the laws2 ,whereas a climate system capable of sustaining human life-- 7#a7 is fundamental to a free and ordered society2 and 7#b7 is preservative of fundamental rights1 including the rights to life1 liberty1 property1 personal security1 family autonomy1 bodily integrity1 and the ability to learn1 practice1 and transmit cultural and religious traditions2 ,whereas the ,federal ,government sets the energy policy of the ,united ,states1 which has resulted in a national energy system in which approximately #hj percent of the energy in the ,united ,states comes from fossil fuels2 ,whereas the national fossil fuel-based energy system has led to carbon dioxide emissions from the ,united ,states constituting more than of cumulative global carbon dioxide emissions2 ,whereas the ,united ,states is the largest producer of oil and gas in the world1 due in substantial part to the ,federal ,government-- 7#a7 opening up ,federal public land and water for fossil fuel extraction2 and 7#b7 actively supporting fossil fuel energy2 ,whereas there is an overwhelming scientific consensus that-- 7#a7 human-caused climate change is occurring2 and 7#b7 the rate of global heating and ocean acidification as of ,september #bjbj is a result of the buildup of atmospheric greenhouse gas emissions1 primarily carbon dioxide emissions1 largely from the combustion of fossil fuels2 ,whereas atmospheric carbon dioxide levels of over #djj parts per million as of ,september #bjbj have caused a dangerous planetary energy imbalance1 equivalent to the quantity of energy of exploding more than #djj1jjj atomic bombs of the kind dropped on ,hiroshima1 ,japan1 per day1 #cfe days per year1 across the planet2 ,whereas the latest climate science and real-world observations of that energy imbalance demonstrate that the approximately #a degree ,celsius of warming that has already occurred as a result of human-caused climate change is already dangerous and negatively affecting all aspects of society and the economy of the ,united ,states2 ,whereas the last time that atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide were over #djj parts per million-- 7#a7 the seas were #gj to #ij feet higher2 7#b7 ,greenland had no ice2 and 7#c7 coral reefs suffered a major extinction2 ,whereas similar conditions will result if the ,united ,states does not drastically reduce carbon dioxide emissions and naturally sequester excess concentrations of atmospheric carbon dioxide during the #bast century2 ,whereas climate change is a threat to national security1 as climate change contributes to and exacerbates global instability and conflict2 ,whereas the generation of today's children was born into a climate system made hazardous to their health and well-being because of human-caused climate change2 ,whereas children are uniquely vulnerable to human-caused climate change because of their developing bodies1 higher exposure to air1 food1 and water per unit of body weight1 unique behavior patterns1 dependence on caregivers1 and longevity on the planet2 ,whereas human-caused climate change is a public health emergency that is adversely impacting the physical and mental health of children through-- 7#a7 extreme weather events2 7#b7 rising temperatures and increased heat exposure2 7#c7 decreased air quality2 7#d7 altered infectious disease patterns2 7#e7 food and water insecurity2 and 7#f7 other effects2 ,whereas infant mortality increases #be percent on extremely hot days1 with the first #g days of life representing a period of critical vulnerability2 ,whereas heat illness is a leading cause of death and illness in high school athletes1 with nearly #aj1jjj episodes of heat illness occurring annually2 ,whereas #h4d percent of children suffer from allergic rhinitis1 and the ragweed pollen season in ,north ,america has grown #ac to #bg days longer since #aiie due to higher temperatures and greater atmospheric carbon dioxide levels2 ,whereas children exposed to wildfires suffer substantial-- 7#a7 eye symptoms2 and 7#b7 upper and lower respiratory symptoms that lead to increased rates of asthma-related hospitalizations and emergency room visits2 ,whereas extreme weather events can negatively impact the mental health of children due to-- 7#a7 family loss or separation2 7#b7 school interruption2 7#c7 scarcities of food1 water1 and shelter2 and 7#d7 public service outages2 ,whereas1 without immediate steps to address human-caused climate change1 the health effects of climate change on children will-- 7#a7 increase in severity and in terms of the number of children impacted2 and 7#b7 cost the ,united ,states billions of dollars per year by the end of the #bast century2 ,whereas children will largely shoulder the costs of human-caused climate change2 ,whereas further increases in global temperature will saddle children with an enormous1 perhaps incalculable1 cost burden1 undermining their economic security and the economic security of the ,united ,states2 ,whereas children are deserving of special consideration and protection with respect to human-caused climate change2 ,whereas children on the frontlines of human-caused climate change across the ,united ,states and globally have risen up and called upon government leaders around the world to take concrete1 science-based1 and equitable action-- 7#a7 to address human-caused climate change2 and 7#b7 to ensure climate justice for their generation1 future generations1 and frontline and vulnerable communities1 including communities of color1 low-income communities1 and indigenous peoples2 ,whereas global atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations must be reduced to below #cej parts per million by the end of the #bast century1 with further reductions thereafter1 to restore the energy balance of the planet1 stabilize the climate system1 and protect the ice sheets and oceans for posterity2 ,whereas existing and future adverse public health and other impacts and costs to children and the ,united ,states can be significantly mitigated if the ,united ,states acts promptly to reduce emissions from fossil fuels in the ,united ,states2 ,whereas numerous experts have concluded that there are multiple technically and economically feasible pathways to place all sectors of the economy of the ,united ,states on an emissions-reduction path consistent with returning global atmospheric carbon dioxide to #cej parts per million by #bajj2 ,whereas producing energy in the ,united ,states with noncarbon-emitting sources will result in energy costs within the range of recent experience1 ultimately saving consumers money and stabilizing the cost of energy1 while increasing the number of jobs in the energy sector2 and ,whereas multiple ,federal departments and agencies can exercise authority delegated by ,congress to prevent and respond to climate change1 including-- 7#a7 the ,department of ,energy2 7#b7 the ,department of the ,interior2 7#c7 the ,department of ,agriculture2 7#d7 the ,environmental ,protection ,agency2 7#e7 the ,department of ,commerce2 and 7#f7 the ,department of ,state3 ,now1 therefore1 be it ,that it is the sense of ,congress that-- 7#a7 renewed leadership by the ,united ,states is needed immediately to address the human-caused climate crisis that is disproportionately affecting the health1 economic opportunity1 and fundamental rights of the children of the ,united ,states2 and 7#b7 there is a human-caused climate crisis that-- 7,a7 has inspired children across the ,united ,states to organize and demand immediate government action to protect their fundamental rights from the perils of climate change2 and 7,b7 demands a national1 comprehensive1 science-based1 and just climate recovery plan that-- 7i7 is prepared by ,federal departments and agencies pursuant to delegated authority over energy and climate policy2 and 7ii7 to uphold the fundamental rights of children1 puts the ,united ,states on a trajectory consistent with reducing global atmospheric carbon dioxide to below #cej parts per million by #bajj4