Tag: climate leadership

  • Tens of Thousands Urge Democrats to Strengthen 2020 Platform on Fossil Fuels

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

    August 13, 2020

    CONTACT:
    Collin Rees, Oil Change U.S., collin [at] priceofoil.org
    Brett Hartl, Center for Biological Diversity Action Fund, bretthartl [at] centeractionfund.org
    Lauren Maunus, Sunrise Movement, lauren [at] sunrisemovement.org
    Thanu Yakupitiyage, 350 Action, thanu [at] 350action.org
    Mitch Jones, Food & Water Action, mjones [at] fwwatch.org

    Tens of Thousands Urge Democrats to Strengthen 2020 Platform on Fossil Fuels

    WASHINGTON, DC — More than 30,000 people and ten leading climate and environmental groups today called on the Democratic National Committee (DNC) to strengthen the 2020 party platform’s section on fossil fuel pollution and extraction.

    Today’s petition urges the DNC to develop a plan to slash fossil fuel extraction over the next 10 years while ensuring a just transition for workers and impacted communities. DNC members have been voting on the final platform and are expected to ratify it by the weekend.

    “Protecting our climate requires limiting fossil fuel extraction, but the DNC platform lets the world’s largest polluters drill, frack and mine unlimited oil, gas and coal,” said Brett Hartl, chief political strategist at the Center for Biological Diversity Action Fund. “If we want to have a livable planet and truly address the environmental injustices caused by fossil fuels, the Democratic 2020 platform must do better.”

    After pushback from climate and environmental justice activists, the DNC platform committee revised the early platform draft to include a commitment to ban new oil and gas permitting on public lands and waters — similar to the commitment Vice President Biden made to end all new permitting.

    But the platform still does not include a plan to stop new oil, gas and coal projects and phase out existing fossil fuel production nationwide. That leaves it at odds with what scientists say is necessary to keep warming to 1.5ºC in line with the Paris climate agreement.

    The petition also emphasized the links between fossil fuel production and environmental racism: “From fracking wells to the Keystone XL and Dakota Access pipelines, fossil fuel projects routinely violate Indigenous rights and disproportionately spew toxic emissions into Black communities and other communities of color,” the petition notes.

    The DNC’s draft platform also includes a nod to unproven technology like carbon capture and storage that is favored by the fossil fuel industry as cover for continued fossil fuel production.

    “We’re in a period of compound crises that climate change will exacerbate in unfathomable ways, yet Democratic leadership continues to shy away from dealing with the root causes of the crisis,” said Jenny Marienau Zimmer, 350 Action campaign manager. “It’s time for the Democratic Party to display political will and courage and commit to phasing out fossil fuel extraction. The only clear path is bold climate action and transitioning to a renewable energy economy.”

    “The Democratic Party has made some important strides, but any plan to confront the climate crisis must include a bold plan to tackle the fossil fuel industry and end deadly oil and gas expansion,” said Collin Rees, senior campaigner with Oil Change U.S. “Fossil fuel infrastructure impacts frontline communities first and worst — it’s time for a real just transition that puts workers and communities in charge.”

    “While the GOP props up fossil fuel billionaires, poisoning our communities and threatening a stable climate, the Democratic Party must lead unequivocally with a plan to protect working people and communities in a rapid transition to a renewable energy economy,” said Lauren Maunus, Sunrise Movement legislative manager. “There is no room for negotiation; we simply cannot reduce emissions at the pace science and justice demand while continuing to extract and burn toxic fossil fuels.”

    “We strongly urge the Democratic Party to adopt a bold climate plan with a focus on phasing out fossil fuels,” said Mitch Jones, policy director at Food & Water Action. “We cannot seriously begin to fight off our worsening climate chaos without recognizing the central role extracting, processing and burning fossil fuels has played, and continues to play, in forcing climate change.”

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  • Biden Campaign Urged to Ditch Larry Summers Over Anti-Environment, Anti-Worker Stances

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

    May 6, 2020

    Contact:
    Collin Rees, collin [at] priceofoil.org
    Brett Hartl, bretthartl [at] centeractionfund.org
    Maria Langholz, langholzm [at] boldprogressives.org

    Biden Campaign Urged to Ditch Larry Summers Over Anti-Environment, Anti-Worker Stances

    WASHINGTON — More than two dozen leading progressive groups today urged Joe Biden’s presidential campaign to remove Larry Summers from any role in the campaign or a future Biden administration. The groups include the Center for Biological Diversity Action Fund, Sunrise Movement, Justice Democrats, MoveOn, Progressive Change Campaign Committee, Working Families Party and Oil Change U.S.

    Summers is reportedly advising Biden’s campaign on economic policy. Summers was a senior political advisor during the Clinton administration and director of President Obama’s National Economic Council, but he has consistently taken anti-worker, anti-environmental positions throughout his career.

    As today’s letter explains: “Summers has put the interests of large corporations ahead of working families in the United States and around the world, fueled the climate crisis, and undermined efforts to ensure gender equality.”

    “Summers won’t help the Biden administration build a just and green economy or address the dire threat of climate change,” said Brett Hartl, chief political strategist at the Center for Biological Diversity Action Fund. “Summers only cares about the well-being of large corporations, polluters and the billionaire class.”

    The letter notes Summers’ extensive record of steering the U.S. government toward failed “policies that prop up Wall Street at the expense of working people, from fighting efforts to regulate derivatives in the Clinton administration through mismanaging the fallout during the Great Recession.” His credibility, the letter says, is also tarnished by “horrendous comments about women lacking an intrinsic aptitude for math and science, his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, and known penchant for bullying.”

    The organizations condemn Summers for contributing to the climate emergency on several fronts, including his support for constructing the Keystone XL pipeline and lifting the U.S. national crude oil export ban. Both measures are widely opposed by climate and environmental justice groups for endangering impacted communities’ health and increasing U.S. greenhouse gas pollution.

    “Joe Biden has a major trust gap that he must overcome with voters under 45 who voted overwhelmingly against him in the primary and who he’ll need to defeat Trump,” said Alexandra Rojas, Executive Director of Justice Democrats and Evan Weber, Political Director of the Sunrise Movement. “Larry Summers’ legacy is advocating for policies that contributed to the skyrocketing inequality and climate crisis our generation is living with today. If Biden is serious about doing what’s right by young people — and frankly, if he’s serious about defeating Donald Trump — he’ll publicly reject Summers’ role as an economic advisor and say he’ll have no role in a Biden administration.”

    “It is absolutely critical that Joe Biden win the presidency, and to inspire voters his campaign needs to show it is taking their interests to heart,” said Nick Berning of MoveOn. “Larry Summers used his influence in the last administration to block policies to help struggling homeowners while advancing policies that Wall Street off the hook —and that’s just part of his alarming record. The Biden campaign should prioritize personnel who represent people; it shouldn’t touch Summers with a 10-foot pole. This Wall Street trojan horse has no place in a Biden campaign or administration.”

    “The only way for Biden to win is to mobilize and excite the progressive base, and that means real progressive representation on the ticket, and in the administration. If Biden announced key progressive personnel picks — for VP, Cabinet, and in transition leadership — it would go a long way towards building momentum and excitement for a Biden candidacy. In fact, it’s the only way he’ll win,” said PCCC spokesperson Maria Langholz. “Unfortunately, Larry Summers represents an outdated, business-as-usual politics that does not work for the majority of the American people but instead puts corporate interests first.”

    “Summers made a career out of lending a patina of credibility to the priorities of the powerful and privileged,” said Working Families Party National Director Maurice Mitchell. “He’s sided with organized money over working people on climate change and holding Wall Street accountable. Just this year Summers carried water for billionaires with his baseless criticisms of the Warren-Sanders wealth tax. Biden, the Democratic Party, and America can do so much better than Larry Summers.”

    “Larry Summers has spent decades pushing disastrous policies for working people and the planet,” said Collin Rees, Senior Campaigner at Oil Change U.S. “He’s already derailed progressive change in two Democratic administrations — allowing him access to a third in the midst of our economic and climate crises would be an unmitigated disaster. The Biden campaign needs to drop Summers ASAP.”

    Click here to read the full letter.

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  • Oil Change U.S. endorses Bernie Sanders for Democratic Presidential Nomination

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

    March 9, 2020

    CONTACT:
    Rebecca Concepcion Apostol, rebecca@priceofoil.org
    David Turnbull, david@priceofoil.org

    Oil Change U.S. endorses Bernie Sanders for Democratic Presidential Nomination

     

    Today, Oil Change U.S. (OCUS) is announcing its endorsement of Senator Bernie Sanders for the Democratic nomination for President of the United States. In response, Rebecca Concepcion Apostol, National Program Director of Oil Change U.S. provided the following statement:

    “Thanks to years of organizing, communities raising the alarm, our youth striking, and candidates taking note, our climate crisis is center stage in 2020. We need a climate champion to face off against the fossil-fueled denial of Donald Trump. Bernie Sanders is that candidate.

    “Bernie Sanders’s Green New Deal climate plan provides the ambition needed for the U.S. to become a global leader in the climate fight.1 It includes a clear intent to phase out fossil fuel production, commits to a just transition for our workers, and ensures justice for frontline communities. We believe Bernie Sanders will stand up to the industry that is causing this climate crisis every day.

    “We at Oil Change U.S. work to kick fossil fuel money out of politics, keep fossil fuels in the ground, and build political support for real climate leaders. Bernie Sanders shares these goals. He stands head and shoulders above his remaining primary opponent when it comes to his commitment to tackling the climate crisis.

    “Oil Change US’s focus is on climate and energy policies, and our climate justice crisis sits within a broader context of fights for justice for communities across our country. On critical issues such as immigration rights, access to healthcare, access to higher education, and economic justice, Bernie Sanders presents a vision for America that we stand behind.

    “To beat Donald Trump in November, it is absolutely critical that the issues that matter to the Democratic base — particularly young people and people of color who are already feeling the impacts fossil fuel production and the climate crisis — are fought for and taken on by a Democratic nominee committed to justice for all of us. Our climate crisis cannot afford four more years of inaction or even four more years of modest action that does not meet the scale of the problem.

    “We believe, as Bernie Sanders does, that our climate crisis presents us with our single greatest opportunity to build a more just and equitable future. We need someone new to come into the White House with a vision for climate action that is up to the task, and Bernie Sanders holds that vision. Bernie Sanders has shown what true climate leadership looks like and we know he will bring us closer to the promise of justice for all.”

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    MORE INFORMATION:

  • Why Jay Inslee’s new plan takes the 2020 climate discussion to the next level

    The 2020 Democratic primary is heating up, and with it has come a welcome change in the climate discussion – candidates are finally acknowledging the climate crisis and getting serious about their plans to confront it. Governor Jay Inslee’s new ‘Freedom from Fossil Fuels’ climate plan is a really, really important development, because it takes the climate conversation to a new level that hasn’t been explored much –how we actively dismantle the fossil fuel industry and its political power in order to win the change we need.

    The plan ends subsidies, stops new fossil fuel infrastructure, and bans fossil fuel exports. Here’s our Oil Change U.S. response, but I’m here to explain in more detail why this plan is so exciting and takes the discussion on dealing with the climate crisis to the next level.

    The science shows that right now, the carbon in already-operating oil and gas fields and coal mines would take us wayyyy beyond 1.5ºC. To clarify: that’s with already-existing fossil fuel infrastructure only.

    What that means is that every single new piece of fossil fuel infrastructure digs a deeper hole. Each new oil well, gas pipeline, and export terminal makes the problem worse, and will need to be retired long before the end of its “useful life” (side note: we need some new and better terminology).

    Instead of confronting this fact, the fossil fuel industry, its billionaire CEOs, and the overwhelming majority of both parties in the U.S. are rushing to build as much fossil fuel infrastructure as they can, without acknowledging the consequences of their actions or making any real plans for a transition to a different economy.

    Thanks to these billionaires and politicians on both sides of the aisle, the United States is set to unleash the world’s largest burst of new oil & gas production by 2030 — and the carbon that comes with it — if we don’t do something about it ASAP.

    Tribal nations and communities are desperately trying to stop and delay this massive buildout, while workers are constantly abused by billionaire oil, gas, and coal executives — and kept in fear of losing the hard-fought gains they’ve won over the last century of incredible organizing.

    Meanwhile, your tax dollars are fueling the crisis. The U.S. gives over $20 BILLION in subsidies to oil, gas, and coal production every single year, and that number has increased significantly following the Trump and GOP tax cuts.

    This means even the HUGE task of transitioning to 100% renewable energy in the next 10-20 years won’t be enough. Research shows that if we don’t phase down oil production and limit exports (i.e., reinstate the Crude Oil Export Ban lifted in 2015 with the help of Democrats), we’re still in deep trouble.

    Given all of this, a real plan to:

    • Limit the fossil fuel industry’s expansion;
    • End heavy subsidization from U.S. taxpayers; and
    • Phase out existing extraction with a just transition

    …isn’t just “nice to have” policy. It must be a critical piece of any serious climate plan.

    It’s also critical to protect workers. We’ve seen time and again that when industry goes belly-up, workers are the first to be abandoned by billionaire executives — it’s been happening with Big Coal for the last 20 years. Pensions are cut, health benefits are slashed, layoffs skyrocket.

    Careful planning and strong labor involvement in the plan to phase out oil, gas, and coal production are key to a truly just transition. Because if we don’t make a plan for this managed transition, we’re headed straight for either climate disaster or economic chaos (or both).

    This is why no climate plan is complete without dealing with all facets of the problem. This ‘Freedom from Fossil Fuels’ plan means nothing without a strong agenda for heavy, sustained investment in social protections, thriving wages, and good, family-sustaining jobs.

    A plan for 100% renewable energy is just a slogan if you’re not also actively implementing a plan to phase out fossil fuel infrastructure & diminish the fossil fuel industry’s political power (which will be a necessity to get ANY sort of climate policy passed, at any level).

    All of this is why much of the climate movement spends a lot of time yelling about stopping pipelines and ending subsidies and banning exports. It’s not that we don’t love clean and renewable energy (we absolutely do). It’s because we also have to go directly after the industry to have a chance at success.

    It’s not just because we hate billionaires (although we definitely do) or hate workers in the labor movement (we definitely don’t; we love them and need their help to have any shot at success). It’s because if we don’t have a plan to carefully dismantle the fossil fuel industry as we build a new world, things could turn ugly really, really quickly.

    With all of this in mind, kudos to Gov. Jay Inslee for a plan that addresses this problem in a serious way. The ‘Freedom from Fossil Fuels’ plan stops new fossil fuel infrastructure, bans fossil fuel exports, ends fossil fuel subsidies, and commits to doing the hard but important work of figuring out how to phase out existing infrastructure.

    It creates a Presidential Commission to study how to make this phase-out of fossil fuel production a reality. It puts key options such as “buying out & decommissioning fossil fuel assets,” which is a conversation that we sorely need to be having. And crucially, Inslee’s ‘Freedom from Fossil Fuels’ plan is connected at the hip with his ‘Evergreen Economy’ plan to commit heavy investment to protect Americans and create good, family-sustaining jobs.

    Another critical piece of Inslee’s plan is his commitment to direct federal agencies to “fully empower tribal nations, through free, prior and informed consent, and the enforcement of treaty rights, to reject major infrastructure proposals that would adversely impact their people, land, water, or cultural resources.” This process of Free, Prior, and Informed Consent — which is well-defined internationally — would mark a groundbreaking shift from the way Indigenous peoples have been treated throughout America’s history, and Inslee should be applauded for committing to it in his plan.

    Inslee’s plan does a lot more than what’s listed here, and honestly every climate policy wonk should read it cover-to-cover. There are already some excellent analyses out yesterday from Leah Stokes, Fergus Green, my colleague David Turnbull, David Roberts, Julian Noisecat and Brian Kahn, Justin Guay, and many others.

    The plan is far from perfect, because we as a community are still sorting out how we talk about these topics. The conversation on phasing out the fossil fuel industry entirely is long overdue. One of our biggest problems is that not enough people are thinking about how to enact this phase-out. It’s scary and means confronting real power in scary ways.

    But it’s also essential:

    • To meet climate goals;
    • To protect Indigenous rights & communities everywhere; and
    • To enact a truly just transition for workers

    To sum up, this plan is awesome, but I also hope that ten better plans pop up in the next few months from other candidates, from elected officials, from think tanks and advocates, from academics, from energy wonks, and more. We desperately need them.

    Here’s the thread above in its original Twitter form:

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  • Inslee raises the bar, recognizes the imperative of a fossil fuel production phase-out – Oil Change U.S. response

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

    June 24, 2019

    CONTACT:
    David Turnbull, david [at] priceofoil.org
    Collin Rees, collin [at] priceofoil.org

    Inslee raises the bar, recognizes the imperative of a fossil fuel production phase-out

    Today, Washington Governor and presidential candidate Jay Inslee released his latest climate plan, entitled ‘Freedom from Fossil Fuels,’ focused on ending fossil fuel handouts and ramping down fossil fuel production, infrastructure, and exports in the United States in line with climate science and a just transition for workers and communities. In response, David Turnbull, Strategic Communications Director with Oil Change U.S., released the following statement:

    “Governor Inslee’s ‘Freedom from Fossil Fuels’ plan is yet another barn burner that should put both the fossil fuel industry and other candidates on notice. With action to end handouts to fossil fuels and rein in the out-of-control expansion of oil and gas in the United States, this plan shows what real climate leadership looks like, plain and simple. By addressing fossil fuel production at home, Inslee has added an essential piece to the puzzle of a comprehensive climate policy.

    “The U.S. is poised for a massive oil and gas expansion that would make achieving our climate goals basically impossible if left unchecked. Governor Inslee’s plan is the first we’ve seen that truly acknowledges this emergency and proposes critical steps to turn it back. With an end to fossil fuel subsidies and other handouts to the industry and a stop to new pipelines and other fossil fuel infrastructure, we can begin the critical task of a managed phase-out of fossil fuel production in the United States with a just transition for workers and communities.

    “This plan will undoubtedly be attacked by the fossil fuel industry and its friends in government, and we applaud Governor Inslee for his courage in facing these attacks head on. We challenge other candidates to choose a side — are you with communities standing up to fossil fuels and workers demanding real protections, or are you with the Big Oil billionaires maintaining a climate-destroying status quo? Governor Inslee has shown he’s unafraid to stand with the people, and we expect the full Democratic field to join him.

    “With the No Fossil Fuel Money pledge now a consensus position in the Democratic field and candidates lining up to say no to fossil fuel subsidies and new drilling on public lands, we are beginning to see the kind of real climate leadership we so desperately need. The Democratic Party must endorse a climate debate so candidates can dive into the differences and similarities in their plans to confront the climate crisis. Only then will we see who else is willing to put forward plans that stand up to the fossil fuel industry with the kind of courage Governor Inslee has shown today.”

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    Notes for Editors:

    – Governor Inslee’s full ‘Freedom from Fossil Fuels’ plan can be found here: https://www.jayinslee.com/issues/freedom-from-fossil-fuels

    – Recent analysis by Oil Change International shows that the U.S. will see a drastic increase in oil and gas production in the next 20 years unless action is taken to stop it: http://priceofoil.org/2019/01/16/report-drilling-towards-disaster/

    – Analysis by Oil Change International in 2017 put total combined federal and state fossil fuel subsidies in the U.S. at over $20 billion per year: http://priceofoil.org/2017/10/03/dirty-energy-dominance-us-subsidies/

  • Inslee’s international climate plan: Stop Funding Fossils, Ramp Up Ambition – Oil Change U.S. response

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

    June 5, 2019

    CONTACT:
    David Turnbull, david [at] priceofoil.org
    Collin Rees, collin [at] priceofoil.org

    Inslee’s international climate plan: Stop Funding Fossils, Ramp Up Ambition – Oil Change U.S. response

    Today, presidential candidate and Governor of Washington Jay Inslee released his latest climate policy platform plank, focused on international climate efforts. In response, David Turnbull, Strategic Communications Director at Oil Change U.S., released the following statement:

    “Governor Jay Inslee’s new international climate plan is a robust, thorough, and considered plan of climate action on the international scale that would move the United States back towards a true global leadership position if implemented effectively.

    “The bar keeps getting pushed higher for the climate plans from Democratic presidential candidates, and this is exactly the kind of competition we need in order to confront the fossil fuel industry and address the climate crisis head-on. Today, it’s Governor Inslee’s turn, once again, to challenge the field. With his international climate policy plan, Governor Inslee makes it clear that simply saying ‘I will rejoin the Paris Agreement’ is nowhere near enough to show true climate leadership on the global stage.

    “Governor Inslee’s plan takes rejoining the Paris Agreement as a starting point and launches into a robust plan of action, including ramping up ambition within the UN process, as well as ending international fossil fuel finance and subsidies for fossil fuel production. The plan also includes critical support for clean energy access abroad, properly aligning the entirety of U.S. foreign policy with our climate imperatives, appropriately kicking big polluters out of the UN climate negotiations, and rightfully holding the fossil fuel industry and petrostates to account for climate crimes and impacts.

    “This latest piece of Governor Inslee’s ‘Climate Mission’ is the strongest yet. We hope other candidates step up to join Inslee in recognizing that addressing the climate crisis at a global scale means ending fossil fuel subsidies everywhere, stepping up American leadership aggressively, and investing in the most vulnerable communities at home and abroad.

    “With numerous climate plans coming from Democratic presidential candidates on a near-daily basis, it seems natural that the Democratic National Committee provide a forum for a robust, climate-focused debate so candidates can challenge each other on the details of their plans. We urge Chair Tom Perez to heed the growing calls by scheduling such a debate.“

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    Notes to Editors:

    – International government support for fossil fuel production totals more than $440 billion each year: http://priceofoil.org/2015/11/11/empty-promises-g20-subsidies-to-oil-gas-and-coal-production/

    – Inslee’s full international climate plan can be found here: https://www.jayinslee.com/issues/global-climate

     

     

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  • Oil Change U.S. response to Joe Biden’s climate plan

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

    June 4, 2019

    CONTACT:
    David Turnbull, david [at] priceofoil.org
    Collin Rees, collin [at] priceofoil.org

    Oil Change U.S. response to Joe Biden’s climate plan

    This morning, Joe Biden released his plan to combat climate change, committing to sign the No Fossil Fuel Money pledge and ban new oil and gas permits on public lands and waters. In response, David Turnbull, Strategic Communications Director at Oil Change U.S., issued the following statement:

    “Today’s climate plan from Joe Biden is the latest recognition that climate change is the defining issue of the 2020 election. The climate crisis has arrived not just in our backyards, but in our politics. After a weak trial balloon swiftly beaten back by a powerful movement demanding urgent action, Biden has responded by committing to take the No Fossil Fuel Money pledge and outlining some important actions that begin to approach the levels needed to address the climate crisis.

    “We’re thrilled that Vice President Biden has committed to join 16 of his fellow candidates in signing the No Fossil Fuel Money pledge. In so doing, he solidifies a near-consensus position amongst Democratic presidential contenders in finally rejecting the fossil fuel industry’s influence on our politics.

    “Ending reliance on fossil fuel money allows candidates to begin to consider actions commensurate with the challenge we face in the climate crisis, and Joe Biden’s plan continues this trend. Our public lands should not be the scenes of climate crimes by way of fossil fuel extraction, and we’re happy to see Biden join the Democratic chorus in calling for the end of fossil fuel extraction on public lands and waters.

    “Vice President Biden’s call for ending international fossil fuel subsidies and finance of ‘high carbon’ projects is an important step, but it should reflect the reality that all fossil fuels are high carbon at this late date in the climate struggle. Export credits and development finance should not only explicitly exclude coal, but also all other fossil fuel infrastructure including oil and gas.

    “Unfortunately, Biden’s plan remains problematic in several ways, and we hope he will listen to concerns from communities and scientists in the days and weeks ahead. Reliance on unproven techno-unicorns like carbon capture and storage promotes the interests of the incumbent fossil fuel industry, while forestalling critical action needed to swiftly move away from fossil fuels completely. It’s especially troubling to see Biden commit to doubling down on government  subsidies for carbon capture and storage, given his plan calls for a global ban on fossil fuel subsidies writ large.

    “Overall, today’s plan from Vice President Biden is another indication that the climate crisis has arrived. The Democratic Party would be wise to lean into this reality, by hosting a debate focused on the climate crisis and allowing the American public to see which candidates are ready to rise to the challenge. Not only is the climate crisis an issue of paramount importance for the next president, but showing climate leadership is clearly a political winner for candidates in the 2020 race.”

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    Notes to Editors:

    – For a full listing of No Fossil Fuel Money pledge signers in the presidential race, see: http://nofossilfuelmoney.org/presidential-signers/

    – New research shows that even if methane emissions from gas production were eliminated immediately, continued expansion of gas production would make it impossible to meet global climate goals: http://priceofoil.org/2019/05/30/gas-is-not-a-bridge-fuel/

    – Biden’s full climate position can be found here: https://joebiden.com/climate

     

     

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  • 200+ Groups Urge Senate to Oppose European Fossil Fuel Promotion Bill

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

    May 9, 2019

    CONTACT:
    Collin Rees, collin [at] priceofoil.org
    Seth Gladstone, sgladstone [at] fwwatch.org
    Ryan Schleeter, rschleet [at] greenpeace.org

    200+ Groups Urge Senate to Oppose European Fossil Fuel Promotion Bill

    Washington, DC — More than 200 groups sent a letter to U.S. senators today, urging them to oppose the European Energy Security and Diversification Act of 2019 (S. 704), a bill that would provide billions of dollars of support for natural gas infrastructure projects in Europe, further incentivizing fracking and fossil fuel development in the United States. The bill, passed by the House in March, has drawn criticism for locking both the United States and Europe into decades of continued fossil fuel dependence under the guise of national security.

    The letter was organized by Center for Biological Diversity, Climate Hawks Vote, The Climate Mobilization, Food & Water Watch, Friends of the Earth US, Greenpeace USA, Oil Change U.S., Progressive Democrats of America, Public Citizen, Rainforest Action Network, Sunrise Movement, and 350.org.

    The letter states, in part: “The only way to promote real energy security is to work together with Europe to rapidly end our shared reliance on fossil fuels. Our nation should be investing in renewable energy technology and energy efficiency, not setting aside tens of billions of dollars to support fracked-gas infrastructure projects that will keep Europe dependent on fossils.”

    “This bill would undermine its own stated cause. Using fossil fuels for energy diplomacy increases global tensions and decreases our national security by pouring fuel on the fire of the climate crisis. Research clearly shows that existing fossil fuel development – including gas development – contains more carbon than the world can afford to burn,” said Collin Rees, Senior Campaigner at Oil Change U.S. “Any action that seeks to build out new, additional fossil fuel infrastructure flies in the face of what’s needed for a just transition. We must invest in the clean energy of the future, not in dirty fuels like gas that will directly crowd out these renewable sources and lock us into climate disaster.”

    “At a moment when we should be leading the global mission to rapidly quit fossil fuels, the notion of seeking new and deeper fossil fuel codependence between America and Europe is patently absurd,” said Wenonah Hauter, executive director at Food & Water Watch. “Climate science is clear: We must begin an aggressive global transition to clean, renewable energy now. For the Senate to promote the opposite would be a clear abdication of moral duty to current and future generations in this country and every country.”

    “The only way to promote real energy security is to work with Europe to rapidly end reliance on fossil fuels,” said Nicole Ghio, Senior Program Manager at Friends of the Earth. “As communities around the world deal with the effects of climate change, America should be investing in renewable energy, not dirty fossil fuels.”

    “Whatever the geopolitics, sending more deadly fossil fuels to Europe or any other part of the world is not the answer. Natural gas is fool’s gold and will inevitably lead to further destabilization of any region that relies upon it,” said Bill Snape, Senior Counsel at the Center for Biological Diversity. “The future is with clean renewable energy and infrastructure. Any expenditure of taxpayer funds for fossil fuels is a colossal waste of money and a major lost opportunity.”

    “Civilization is already breaking down in the face of rising climate disasters,” said Ezra Silk, Director of Strategy & Policy at The Climate Mobilization. “At the very least, we must immediately halt all new climate-damaging investments, including the expansion of natural gas infrastructure. This bill would bring us yet another step closer to runaway global warming and the collapse of civilization.”

    “The time for climate make-believe is past,” said Russell Greene, Senior Strategic Adviser to the Progressive Democrats of America. “Let’s deal in truth. We are in a climate emergency and have no carbon budget left to burn.”

    “The clean energy revolution is inevitable – across the globe, people are already powering their communities with wind and solar,” said Janet Redman, Climate Campaign Director at Greenpeace USA. “Foolishly investing billions of dollars in the oil and gas industry like this will only make the United States and our European allies fall behind in the race towards a clean energy economy. Instead of putting the fossil fuel industry on life support, it’s time to clear the way towards a green and prosperous future for all.”

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  • Oil Change USA response to Green New Deal resolutions

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

    February 7, 2019

    CONTACT:
    David Turnbull, david [at] priceofoil.org
    Collin Rees, collin [at] priceofoil.org

    Oil Change USA response to Green New Deal resolutions

    In response to the Green New Deal resolutions introduced today by Senator Ed Markey and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, David Turnbull, Strategic Communications Director with Oil Change USA, released the following statement: 

    “We are encouraged that these resolutions include bold and important proposals that start to reflect the scope and scale of actions that the climate crisis requires. Representative Ocasio-Cortez and Senator Markey are key allies in the climate fight, and we are excited to use the resolutions as starting points in our shared goal of sparking truly transformational climate leadership and action. Despite the resolutions lacking explicit language addressing fossil fuel extraction, the sponsors have expressed an intention for a wind-down of fossil fuel production to be included as a part of a Green New Deal, and we look forward to working with them to actualize that imperative.

    “We already have an international climate agreement that fails to include the words ‘fossil fuels’; we can’t afford a Green New Deal that does the same. The science is clear: If the oil, gas, and coal in currently operating wells and mines is dug up and burned, we will blow well past our climate goals. As recent research has shown, the U.S. is on the cusp of an unprecedented surge in oil and gas production at precisely the time we need to be marshaling all of our resources in the opposite direction. It’s critical that we stand with frontline and Indigenous communities fighting fossil fuel infrastructure, and a Green New Deal must not leave these communities behind.

    “Today’s resolutions mark the start of a new conversation on climate action in the United States that can finally begin, thanks to the bold leadership shown by Rep. Ocasio-Cortez and Sen. Markey, and we look forward to engaging fully to ensure a managed decline of fossil fuel production is a key part of that discussion.”

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    Note for Editors:

  • Response: Energy Dominance Is a Climate Catastrophe

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

    February 5, 2019

    CONTACT:
    David Turnbull, david [at] priceofoil.org
    Collin Rees, collin [at] priceofoil.org

    Energy Dominance Is a Climate Catastrophe

    Oil Change USA response to State of the Union

    The transcript for Donald Trump’s State of the Union address tonight includes a section on “energy dominance,” in which he is expected to say:

    “We have unleashed a revolution in American Energy – the United States is now the number one producer of oil and natural gas in the world.”

    In response, David Turnbull, Strategic Communications Director at Oil Change USA, released the following statement:

    “Tonight’s State of the Union should be a wake-up call to all who care about our climate. As Donald Trump pushes ahead with his catastrophic energy dominance agenda, it is imperative that climate champions at all levels who are pushing forward Green New Deal efforts incorporate the critical need to pursue a just and managed decline of fossil fuel production.

    “Trump may tout the surge in oil and gas production in the United States because his oil and gas boosters tell him to, but the reality is that continued expansion of the industry will lead us off the cliff and unleash climate chaos. We need climate leaders to stand up to the energy dominance agenda, to say no to the fossil fuel industry, and to say yes to a swift and managed decline of fossil fuel production.”

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    Notes to Editors: