,,iii #aahth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 ,,con4 ,,res4 #ac ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,july #ac1 #bjbc,mr4 ,merkley 7for himself1 ,mr4 ,markey1 ,mr4 ,wyden1 ,mr4 ,durbin1 ,mr4 ,whitehouse1 ,mr4 ,sanders1 ,mr4 ,booker1 ,ms4 ,warren1 ,mr4 ,van ,hollen1 ,mr4 ,blumenthal1 ,mr4 ,padilla1 ,mrs4 ,murray1 ,ms4 ,duckworth1 and ,mr4 ,welch7 submitted the following concurrent resolution2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,environment and ,public ,works ,,concurrent ,,resolution ,recognizing that the climate crisis disproportionately affects the health1 economic opportunity1 and fundamental rights of children1 expressing the sense of ,congress that leadership by the ,united ,states is still urgently needed to address the climate crisis1 and acknowledging the need of the ,united ,states to develop a national1 comprehensive1 science-based1 and just climate recovery plan to phase out fossil fuel emissions1 protect and enhance natural carbon 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 fossil fuel use for energy in the ,united ,states has increased since the ,industrial ,revolution1 and accelerated to the point that 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 ,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 produced in the ,united ,states comes from fossil fuels2 ,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 leasing ,federal public land and water for fossil fuel extraction2 and 7#b7 actively promoting1 permitting1 and subsidizing fossil fuel energy development and consumption2 ,whereas there is an overwhelming scientific consensus that-- 7#a7 human-caused climate change is occurring2 7#b7 the scale of recent changes across the climate system is unprecedented in a multimillennial context2 and 7#c7 the accelerated rate of global heating1 glacier and ice sheet melting1 sea level rise1 and ocean acidification as of ,april #bjbc is a result of the buildup of atmospheric greenhouse gas emissions1 primarily carbon dioxide emissions1 largely from the combustion of fossil fuels2 ,whereas the accumulation of atmospheric carbon dioxide levels to an annual average of #dai parts per million in #bjbb has 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 around #djj parts per million-- 7#a7 the seas were up to #gj to #ij feet higher2 7#b7 the ,greenland and ,west ,antarctic ice sheets largely collapsed2 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 in addition to naturally sequester and draw down excess concentrations of carbon dioxide already in the atmosphere from cumulative historic emissions during the #bast century2 ,whereas the longer the length of time atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations remain at dangerous levels1 the greater the risk of locking-in dangerous warming-driven feedback loops and triggering accelerated heating and irreversible catastrophic impact2 ,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 harmful 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 and disproportionately impacting the physical health of children through-- 7#a7 increases in extreme weather events1 including increases in heavy rainfall1 flooding1 and hurricanes1 that cause disruptive evacuations1 school closures1 and displacement2 7#b7 increases in the frequency and intensity of extreme heat waves and rising temperatures1 which cause-- 7,a7 increased heat exposure and illness1 which is a leading cause of death and illness in high school athletes with nearly #aj1jjj episodes of heat illness occurring annually2 and 7,b7 increases in infant mortality by #be percent on extremely hot days1 with the first #g days of life representing a period of critical vulnerability2 7#c7 increases in drier conditions and drought1 leading to an earlier wildfire season peak1 and increased wildfire season length1 wildfire frequency1 and extent of burned area1 which expose children-- 7,a7 to wildfire smoke that causes substantial eye symptoms2 7,b7 to debilitating headaches and nausea2 and 7,c7 to upper and lower respiratory symptoms that lead to increased rates of asthma-related hospitalizations and emergency room visits2 7#d7 decreased air quality as children are especially susceptible to air pollution given their developing lungs1 higher ventilation rate1 and higher levels of physical activity2 7#e7 increases in higher pollen concentrations and longer pollen season that contribute to allergic rhinitis1 where #h4d percent of children suffer from allergic rhinitis2 7#f7 altered infectious disease patterns2 7#g7 increases in food and water insecurity2 and 7#h7 other effects2 ,whereas the best scientific information available projects a #ae- to #cj-;foot rise in sea level by the year #bajj if trends continue1 with ever greater rises and acceleration in subsequent centuries1 resulting in increased erosion and the loss of land1 causing the loss of communities1 homes1 infrastructure1 agriculture1 and coastal ecosystems for children affected1 until a time when levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere are dramatically reduced and steps are taken to cool the upper portion of the ocean2 ,whereas extreme weather events can negatively impact the mental health of children due to-- 7#a7 family loss or separation2 7#b7 personal injury or injury of loved ones2 7#c7 damage or loss to personal property and pets2 7#d7 school interruption2 7#e7 scarcities of food1 water1 and medicine shelter2 7#f7 public service outages2 7#g7 displacement1 along with the loss of a sense of home and a safe space2 7#h7 loss of nature and cultural activities2 and 7#i7 feelings of uncertainty about the future and a belief that their government is not protecting them from climate change1 all of which result in anxiety1 trauma1 shock1 post-traumatic stress disorder1 and chronic impacts2 ,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 impacted and exposed to dangerous conditions2 and 7#b7 cost the ,united ,states billions of dollars per year by the end of the #bast century1 with costs growing more expensive as the accumulation of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere increases1 and as chronic psychological consequences of climate-related stress increase2 ,whereas children will largely shoulder the cost of human-caused climate change1 and further increases in the global temperature will saddle children with an enormous1 perhaps incalculable1 cost burden1 undermining the economic security of children and the ,united ,states2 ,whereas1 given their vulnerabilities1 children are deserving of special consideration and protection with respect to human-caused climate change2 ,whereas children are a politically powerless minority without economic or political power to influence climate and energy policy1 as they are denied the right to vote until they become #ah years old1 and their interests have been subjugated to the interests of adults2 ,whereas children on the frontlines of human-caused climate change across the ,united ,states and globally have risen up and called on 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 account for intergenerational inequities to ensure environmental and climate justice for their generation and future generations1 including children from vulnerable communities that have borne the brunt of climate change2 ,whereas children in environmental justice communities1 including communities of color1 low-income communities1 and indigenous communities1 that have contributed the least to emissions-- 7#a7 have long suffered from systemic environmental racism and social and economic injustices2 7#b7 are more likely-- 7,a7 to reside in areas with greater exposure to air pollution2 7,b7 to experience long-term exposure2 and 7,c7 to be disproportionately burdened by adverse health or environmental effects1 including public health pandemics2 7#c7 are subjected to disproportionate energy burdens2 and 7#d7 have less access to resources needed to cope with climate-related impacts2 ,whereas global atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations must be reduced to less than #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 non-carbon emitting sources will-- 7#a7 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 across multiple sectors in the energy sector and the supply chain2 and 7#b7 result in many co-benefits1 including public health and quality-of-life improvements1 the prevention of premature death1 infrastructural stability1 and biodiversity protection2 and ,whereas multiple ,federal departments and agencies can exercise authority delegated by ,congress to prevent and respond to climate change1 including-- 7#a7 the ,executive ,office of the ,president1 the ,council on ,environmental ,quality1 the ,office of ,management and ,budget1 and the ,office of ,science and ,technology ,policy2 7#b7 the ,department of ,agriculture2 7#c7 the ,department of ,commerce2 7#d7 the ,department of ,defense2 7#e7 the ,department of ,energy2 7#f7 the ,department of the ,interior2 7#g7 the ,department of ,state2 7#h7 the ,department of ,transportation2 and 7#i7 the ,environmental ,protection ,agency3 ,now1 therefore1 be it ,that it is the sense of ,congress that-- 7#a7 leadership by the ,united ,states is still urgently needed to address the human-caused climate crisis that disproportionately affects 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 upholds the fundamental rights of children and puts the ,united ,states on a trajectory consistent with reducing global atmospheric carbon dioxide to less than #cej parts per million by #bajj4