Hot for democracy that cools the planet
On a greener future for America and the power of governmental change
What a week. Most of it was marked by constant stress and consuming way too much news content. I may have started addressing my cat as Mr. President. (Compared to the current POTUS, my cat would be more calm, dignified, and spend less time licking his butthole.) But in the end it brought relief, and even some joy, hope for the moral universe bending back toward justice.
I was worried about this election for a lot of reasons, but from a climate perspective it felt do or die. We know we have less than a decade to reduce emissions by 45% from 2010 levels and reach net zero by 2050 to avoid catastrophic climate consequences. That’s a high bar that requires a sprint of society-transforming action, and Trump was running in the wrong direction. Four more years of a pro-coal, regulation-hostile, anti-science agenda would have made it basically impossible for America to come anywhere close to meeting those targets. And, because the United States is the second-biggest emitter of greenhouse gases in the world (behind China), they would have been dragging the rest of the planet down with them.
But ding dong, the ding dong is dead (to me), and in the Biden-Harris team, America has leadership that believes in science and a greener, more just future. They’re also willing to put $1.7 trillion behind into their climate plan, which a major climate think tank suggests could bring the world a lot closer to limiting warming to 1.5 degrees. Is Biden a radical climate hero who is going to save us all? He is not, but as Sarah Lazarovic has pointed out in her newsletter, he is just the kind of moderate who can make ambitious environmental action normcore.
Of course right now he doesn’t have the senate majority he needs to pass ambitious legislation, and though perhaps the Georgia run-off will deliver that Hail Mary, even without it, he can still get a lot done.
Though the U.S. officially left the Paris Climate Agreement last week, Biden has said that on day one of his mandate he will rejoin it. Though the Paris Agreement is nonbinding and allows countries to set their own targets, it is an important way to show a united global front and set the tone for Biden’s term.
On the more practical side of things, Eric Holthaus of climate newsletter The Phoenix has outlined ways Biden could theoretically make major climate progress sans Senate. He explains that executive orders could do some important work:
On Day 1, Biden could declare a national climate emergency and deliver an enormous blow to the fossil fuel industry, ordering agencies to deny all oil and gas infrastructure permits, halt oil and gas exports, stop all new fossil fuel mining and drilling leases, and institute stringent new pollution regulations on emissions. He could direct the Federal Reserve to manage climate risk and end fossil fuel subsidies through the Department of Energy. He could direct the EPA to cap greenhouse gas emissions nationwide, under the authority of the Clean Air Act. He could mobilize the military to rapidly construct renewable energy infrastructure nationwide. He could authorize loan guarantees to retrofit every building in America and put solar panels on the roof of every home. He could direct the Attorney General to prosecute fossil fuel executives for misleading the American public for decades about the true nature of the climate crisis and begin the process to provide reparations to marginalized communities bearing the brunt of the climate emergency.
Some of these actions might take years to bear fruit. But in a single week, Biden would have done more on climate than every other US president combined.
Now, not all of these are likely, but there’s still the enticing whiff of possibility.
He may also be able to pass some centrist climate legislation because Biden is comfortable working across the aisle, plus guess what Republicans love? Investments in jobs and infrastructure, and climate action can provide both. Holthaus notes that more than 90% of renewable energy generation happens in Republican-leaning counties. In Arkansas, for example, green retrofits and solar panels took a school board from running a quarter-million-dollar deficit to a $1.6 million surplus that was used to increase teacher salaries. In Ohio, another red state, Columbus voted to be powered entirely by renewables by 2023!
71 million people voted for Donald Trump, and the green revolution will not be possible without at least some of them. If we pay attention to how we frame climate action, many conservatives may find themselves on board. In the not-so-distant past the environment wasn’t a political issue, and hopefully we can depoliticize it once more. Because things like clean air and water, cheap local energy, healthier food and agriculture, and fewer superstorms and wildfires are good for everyone.
Of course Biden only came to his climate-forward thinking thanks to the relentless pressure of American activists, like the youth-led Sunrise Movement and Green New Deal champions like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Ed Markey, and the mainstreaming of ambitious climate policy by people like climate-focused presidential candidate Governor Jay Inslee. The story isn’t Biden saving the country, it’s the country saving Biden.
The election was also a good reminder of the kinds of changes that can happen at a local level. Many cities had down-ballot initiatives like the one in Columbus. In Long Beach, California, the people voted to raise the tax on barrels of oil and funnel that money into community youth programs and a climate action plan. In Denver, Colorado, they voted to raise the sales tax by 0.25% and put that money into public transit and other greenhouse-gas-reducing projects. Nevada voted in a clean electricity plan that will mean the state gets half its power from renewable sources by 2030. At all levels of government we saw the election of climate champions, from Pennsylvania State Senator Nikil Saval to Phoenix, Arizona, City Councillor Yassamin Ansari. Climate action can happen at every level of government, whether in liberal cities or conservative townships. It can and it has to.
This is a newsletter that’s mostly focused on change you can make yourself. Those personal choices matter, and I think small actions lead to bigger outcomes and increased awareness. But I never want to undermine the vital importance of systemic change. I want us to do all the little things we can, but I don’t want us to stop there. We will not build a better world on new lightbulbs and old clothes. We will not uproot system racism, extractive capitalism, and all the other damaging ideologies that oppress people and accelerate the climate crisis.
The election of Trump in 2016 was a civic awakening for me and many others. But even when the Oval Office isn’t spewing daily toxic, dangerous rhetoric and pushing through wildly destructive policies, we need to be vigilant, we need to be involved. In the words of recently re-elected congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, “If we’re only organizing for elections, we’re never going to win the world that we need.”
So how can we be good democratic citizens?
Make sure you’re informed.
Are you subscribed to newsletters from your city councillor, your provincial or state official? I’d highly recommend it, as it’s a great way to stay informed on local issues that may not make the news. These reps are also likely to write or call you back, which is amazing opportunity to make your voice heard. Subscribe to a few non-governmental orgs while you’re at it: I count on dispatches from organizations like 350.org, Environmental Defence, the Toronto Environmental Alliance, and the David Suzuki Foundation to nudge me when it’s time to speak up.
Write your representatives.
Though for at least three weeks I had the intentions of writing a handwritten letter to my MP, I finally carved out the time on the morning of my birthday. And you know what? It felt great. Democracy is a fantastic birthday activity. Carve out 20 minutes for yourself and write your rep a physical letter (no postage for MP mail in Canada) explaining what climate action means to you, and noting some important actions you’d like the government to take. Mine included things like:
dumping the Trans Mountain Pipeline, which is not only an environmental travesty but a poor investment of taxpayer dollars
an end to fossil fuel subsidies
an ambitious clean energy plan with a just transition for workers
respecting the rights of Indigenous groups and honouring their stewardship of the land
government funding for permaculture and other regenerative agricultural practices
If you can connect your letter to a current issue, all the better. As issues arise (and they do continually, like a nefarious game of Whac-a-Mole), get in touch.
Get involved.
Listen, I am an introvert who is a little bit of afraid of strangers. And I’ll admit my involvement in local efforts has had various false starts, but I’m going to keep trying. Because I know that involvement only gets easier with time, and the hardest thing is often just showing up that first time (okay, and maybe the second and third).
Pick the thing you care about most and look for people who are doing work in that area. It can be uber local and specific, like creating pollinator corridors in your neighbourhood. Focusing yourself on something specific can make it easier to get a handle on the ins and outs and take action.
And by the way, you don’t have to sign up with a strictly environmental NGO to benefit the environment. If you’re doing work to fight racism or sexism, for example, you’re still doing work that will likely have environmental benefits, because guess who cares most about the environment? Women and people of colour, but they’ll be able to better advocate for themselves and their communities without having to deal with racist, sexist roadblocks all the time.
As individuals, we can have an impact. As a collective, we will.
TL;DR
Thanks to steady pressure from activists, the Biden-Harris administration has a significant climate plan that could have a major effect on climate change worldwide.
Individual change is important, but political change is essential if we want to avoid climate chaos and build a greener, more just society.
Keep your democratic muscles strong: sign up for newsletters from your representatives, write to them, and join a local group to amp up your impact.
Wins of the Week
“The only way you’ll feel better is if you get to work building a better world.” — Ayana Elizabeth Johnson on The Current
Even though we’re focusing on collective change this week, you know I am still 100% here for individual actions. This week, a few more things worth celebrating:
Emily invested in some Knix period underwear and loves them! (More on greening your red days here.)
Sarah Joy is bringing some permaculture to her gardens, adding compost and fallen leaves to enrich the soil. She’s leaving other leaves in place as habitat for insect life. (Read more on permaculture and protecting pollinators.)
Erin’s cut way back on her parchment, foil, and plastic wrap thanks to reusable baking mats and beeswax wraps.
More wins, please! Every win is a vote for the kind of world you want to live in.
xo
JK
Five Minutes for Planet is written by me, Jen Knoch, and edited by the incredible Crissy Calhoun. Opening photo by Gayatri Malhotra on Unsplash.