,,iii #aahth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 ,,con4 ,,res4 #i ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,april #bg1 #bjbc,mr4 ,sanders 7for himself1 ,ms4 ,warren1 ,mr4 ,merkley1 ,mr4 ,markey1 ,mr4 ,booker1 and ,mr4 ,welch7 submitted the following concurrent resolution2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,environment and ,public ,works ,,concurrent ,,resolution ,expressing the sense of ,congress that there is a climate emergency which demands a massive-scale mobilization to halt1 reverse1 and address its consequences and causes4 ,whereas the #h warmest years on record have now occurred since #bjad1 with #bjaf as the hottest year recorded1 and each of the past #d decades have been warmer than the one preceding2 ,whereas global atmospheric concentrations of the primary global warming pollutant1 carbon dioxide-- 7#a7 have increased1 primarily due to human activities1 including the burning of fossil fuels and deforestation1 by #dj percent since preindustrial times1 from #bhj parts per million to #dae parts per million2 7#b7 are rising at a rate of #b to #c parts per million annually2 and 7#c7 must be reduced to not more than #cej parts per million1 and likely lower1 if humanity wishes to preserve a planet similar to that on which civilization developed and to which life on ,earth is adapted1 according to former ,national ,aeronautics and ,space ,administration climatologist ,dr4 ,james ,hansen2 ,whereas global atmospheric concentrations of other global warming pollutants1 including methane1 nitrous oxide1 and hydrofluorocarbons1 have also increased substantially since preindustrial times1 primarily due to human activities1 including the burning of fossil fuels2 ,whereas climate science and observations of climate change impacts1 including ocean warming1 ocean acidification1 floods1 droughts1 wildfires1 and extreme weather1 demonstrate that a global rise in concentrations of global warming pollutants is already having dangerous impacts on human populations and the environment2 ,whereas1 with the current #a4a degrees ,celsius of warming above preindustrial levels1 the ,national ,oceanic and ,atmospheric ,administration finds that climate change is already increasing the frequency of extreme weather and other climate-related disasters1 including drought1 wildfire1 and storms that include precipitation2 ,whereas the overall costs of these disasters for the ,united ,states in #bjbb was roughly #afe1jjj1jjj1jjj1 the third highest recorded total costs1 including #ah separate weather and climate disasters which cost at least #a1jjj1jjj1jjj each and caused at least #dgd direct or indirect known fatalities2 ,whereas the ,centers for ,disease ,control and ,prevention finds that there are wide-ranging1 acute1 and fatal public health consequences from climate change that impact communities across the ,united ,states2 ,whereas1 according to the ,national ,climate and ,health ,assessment of the ,united ,states ,global ,change ,research ,program1 climate change is a significant threat to the health of the people of the ,united ,states1 leading to increased-- 7#a7 temperature-related deaths and illnesses2 7#b7 air quality impacts2 7#c7 extreme weather events2 7#d7 numbers of vector-borne diseases2 7#e7 waterborne illnesses2 7#f7 food safety1 nutrition1 and distribution complications2 and 7#g7 mental health and well-being concerns2 ,whereas environmental and public health threats from climate change and climate disasters are not randomly distributed and disproportionately affect low-income communities and communities of color2 ,whereas the consequences of climate change are felt most severely by frontline communities and endanger populations made especially vulnerable by existing exposure to extreme weather events1 such as children1 the elderly1 and individuals with pre-existing disabilities and health conditions2 ,whereas individuals and families on the frontlines of climate change across the ,united ,states1 including territories1 living with income inequality and poverty1 institutional racism1 inequity on the basis of gender and sexual orientation1 poor infrastructure1 and lack of access to health care1 housing1 clean water1 and food security are often in close proximity to environmental stressors or sources of pollution1 particularly communities of color1 indigenous communities1 and low-income communities1 which-- 7#a7 are often the first exposed to the impacts of climate change2 7#b7 experience outsized risk because of the close proximity of the community to environmental hazards and stressors1 in addition to collocation with waste and other sources of pollution2 and 7#c7 have the fewest resources to mitigate those impacts or to relocate1 which will exacerbate preexisting challenges2 ,whereas climate change holds grave and immediate consequences not just for the population of the ,united ,states1 including territories1 but for communities across the world1 particularly those communities in the ,global ,south on the frontlines of the climate crisis that are at risk of forced displacement2 ,whereas the ,department of ,state1 the ,department of ,defense1 and the intelligence community have identified climate change as a threat to national security1 and the ,department of ,homeland ,security views climate change as a top national security risk2 ,whereas the climatic changes resulting from global warming above #a4e degrees ,celsius above preindustrial levels1 including changes resulting from global warming of more than #b degrees ,celsius above preindustrial levels1 are projected to result in irreversible1 catastrophic changes to public health1 livelihoods1 quality of life1 food security1 water supplies1 human security1 and economic growth2 ,whereas1 even with global warming up to #a4e degrees ,celsius above preindustrial levels1 the planet is projected to experience-- 7#a7 a significant rise in sea levels2 7#b7 extraordinary loss of biodiversity2 and 7#c7 intensifying droughts1 floods1 wildfires1 and other extreme weather events2 ,whereas1 according to climate scientists1 addressing the climate emergency will require a just phase-out of the use of oil1 gas1 and coal in order to keep the carbon that is the primary constituent of fossil fuels in the ground and out of the atmosphere2 ,whereas1 in #bjbb1 some of the largest oil and gas companies in the world reported record annual profits and rewarded shareholders with buybacks while knowingly exacerbating the ongoing climate crisis2 ,whereas the ,united ,nations ,intergovernmental ,panel on ,climate ,change has determined that limiting warming through emissions reduction and carbon sequestration will require rapid and immediate acceleration and proliferation of far-reaching1 multilevel1 and cross-sectoral climate mitigation and transitions in energy1 land1 urban and rural infrastructure 7including transport and buildings71 and industrial systems2 ,whereas1 in ,august #bjbb1 the ,united ,states took its single most aggressive action to tackle the climate crisis and transition to create renewable energy solutions when ,public ,law #aag-afi 7commonly known as the ,inflation ,reduction ,act of #bjbb and referred to in this preamble as the ,,ira7 was signed into law by ,president ,biden2 ,whereas the ,,ira includes #cfi1jjj1jjj1jjj for energy security and climate change1 including investments in disadvantaged communities1 projects that repurpose retired fossil fuel infrastructure and employ displaced workers1 and setting the ,united ,states on course for a renewable energy transition as soon as possible2 ,whereas the ,,ira creates new environmental justice block grants1 establishes renewable energy financing1 provides funding for ,tribal communities to boost climate resilience1 makes it more affordable to purchase energy efficient and electric appliances1 incentivizes domestic manufacturing of renewable energy technologies1 and will boost the renewable energy economy2 ,whereas the passage of the ,,ira is projected to reduce global warming emissions in the ,united ,states between #ca percent to #dd percent below #bjje levels by #bjcj2 ,whereas the ,united ,nations ,environment ,programme still found in ,october #bjbb that the existing commitments made in the ,nationally ,determined ,contributions since the #bjae ,paris ,climate ,conference are insufficient to limit warming to #a4e degrees ,celsius2 ,whereas urgent governmental action is still required to address the severe environmental1 economic1 social1 public health1 and national security threats posed by the climate crisis2 ,whereas the massive scope and scale of action necessary to stabilize the climate will continue to require unprecedented levels of public awareness1 engagement1 and deliberation to develop and implement effective1 just1 and equitable policies to address the climate crisis2 ,whereas the ,united ,states has a proud history of collaborative1 constructive1 massive-scale ,federal mobilizations of resources and labor in order to solve great challenges1 such as the ,interstate ,highway ,system1 the ,apollo #aa moon landing1 ,reconstruction1 the ,new ,deal1 and ,world ,war ,,ii2 ,whereas the ,constitution of the ,united ,states protects the fundamental rights to life1 liberty1 property1 and equal protection of the laws1 and a climate system capable of sustaining human life is fundamental to a free and ordered society and the preservation of those fundamental rights2 ,whereas #ah national governments across the world and the ,european ,union have declared a climate emergency1 as well as the ,state of ,hawaii and more than #aij cities1 counties1 and local jurisdictions in the ,united ,states2 ,whereas the ,united ,states maintains existing resources and international commitments for bilateral and multilateral assistance to support economically emerging countries1 including the ,green ,climate ,fund1 the ,clean ,technology ,fund1 the ,adaptation ,fund1 the ,least ,developed ,countries ,fund1 and the ,international ,sustainable ,landscapes programs1 which should be supported with robust funding levels2 ,whereas ,president ,biden also maintains existing ,executive authority under the ,national ,environmental ,policy ,act of #aifi 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #dcba et seq471 the ,mineral ,leasing ,act 7#cj ,u4,s4,c4 #aha et seq471 the ,outer ,continental ,shelf ,lands ,act 7#dc ,u4,s4,c4 #acca et seq471 the ,naval ,petroleum ,reserves ,production ,act of #aigf 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #feja et seq471 the ,federal ,water ,pollution ,control ,act 7#cc ,u4,s4,c4 #abea et seq471 the various ,acts concerning rivers and harbors1 the ,natural ,gas ,act 7#ae ,u4,s4,c4 #gag et seq471 and the ,clean ,air ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #gdja et seq47 that can be used to address the ongoing climate crisis2 ,whereas1 under these existing authorities1 the ,president can phase down the rate of fossil fuel production on ,federal lands and in ,federal waters1 limit gas exports1 halt approval of new fossil fuel infrastructure projects1 establish national limits for greenhouse gases1 and decarbonize transportation2 ,whereas a national climate emergency declaration would further unlock the broad powers of the ,national ,emergencies ,act 7#ej ,u4,s4,c4 #afja et seq471 the ,defense ,production ,act of #aiej 7#ej ,u4,s4,c4 #deja et seq471 and the ,robert ,t4 ,stafford ,disaster ,relief and ,emergency ,assistance ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #eaba et seq472 ,whereas such a declaration can be used to further reduce greenhouse gas emissions1 address environmental injustice1 invest in large scale mitigation and resiliency projects1 create additional jobs with family-sustaining wages and benefits1 and ensure a just transition to a renewable energy economy2 ,whereas such a declaration will allow the ,united ,states to further mobilize domestic industry1 ramp up domestic manufacturing of renewable energy technologies1 and deploy resilient energy infrastructure2 ,whereas such a declaration can also reinstate the ban on crude oil exports1 suspend offshore fossil fuel leases1 curb fossil fuel imports1 and stop the hundreds of billions of dollars in investments in fossil fuel projects abroad while taking additional steps toward strengthening our emergency preparedness for thousands of high-risk communities2 ,whereas such a declaration necessitates the adoption of policies and processes rooted in principles of racial equity1 self-determination1 and democracy1 as well as the fundamental human rights of all people to clean air and water1 healthy food1 and adequate land1 education1 and shelter1 as promulgated in the #aiia ,principles of ,environmental ,justice2 ,whereas frontline communities1 ,tribal governments and communities1 people of color1 and labor unions must be equitably and actively engaged in a national climate emergency declaration1 in such a way that aligns with the #aiif ,jemez ,principles of ,democratic ,organizing1 and prioritized through local climate mitigation and adaptation planning1 policy1 and program delivery so that workers in the ,united ,states1 and the communities of those workers1 are guaranteed a strong1 viable economic future2 and ,whereas the ,united ,states has an obligation1 as a primary driver of accelerated climate change1 to mobilize at emergency speed to ensure the safest climate and environment possible1 not just for communities of the ,united ,states but for communities across the world1 particularly those on the frontlines of the climate crisis which have least contributed to the crisis1 and to account for global and community impacts of any actions the ,united ,states takes in response to the climate crisis3 ,now1 therefore1 be it ,that it is the sense of ,congress that-- 7#a7 climate change caused by human activities1 which increase emissions of greenhouse gases1 constitutes a climate emergency that-- 7,a7 severely and urgently impacts the economic and social well-being1 health1 safety1 and national security of the ,united ,states2 and 7,b7 demands that the ,president wield both existing authorities and emergency powers to ensure a national1 social1 industrial1 and economic mobilization of the resources and labor of the ,united ,states at a massive scale to mitigate and prepare for the consequences of the climate emergency for current and future generations2 and 7#b7 nothing in this concurrent resolution constitutes a declaration of a national emergency for the purposes of any ,act of ,congress authorizing the exercise1 during the period of a national emergency or other type of declared emergency1 of any special or extraordinary power4