Menendez-Snowe Amendment Provides Critical Funding for Climate Adaptation

Senator Menendez's proposed amendment to the Climate Security Act would provide some $500 million over seven years to help the world's most impoverished communities adapt to climate change. Ask Senators Coleman and Klobuchar to support the Menendez amendment now.

The Climate Security Act of 2008, introduced by Senators Lieberman and Warner, would establish a cap-and-trade program to decrease emissions of greenhouse gases. A portion of revenue from the auction of emissions allowances will be made available to help especially vulnerable communities across the globe to adapt to climate change. Adaptation funding is essential for international security, economic development, food supply, disease mitigation, and diplomatic relations. With millions of lives and livelihoods at stake, it's also the right thing to do.

Senator Menendez's amendment to increase climate adaptation funding is an opportunity to make a real long-term investment for those living on the brink. Senator Snowe supports the amendment, making it a bipartisan effort. And because it is a simple reallocation of revenues, no cost is added to the bill. In fact, the Energy Information Administration has determined that the Climate Security Act would not hurt the U.S. economy. It could be a boost.

We applaud Senators Coleman and Klobuchar for co-sponsoring of the bill, however neither senator has yet announced their position on the Menendez Amendment. This could come up for a vote tomorrow, so please take action today. These action instructions are from Oxfam America:

"We need your help to make sure the amendment becomes part of the final bill. Please call your Senator's office today and ask them to support the Menendez Amendment to increase funding for the International Climate Change Adaptation and National Security Program.To make it easier, we've written out four simple steps to make your call as effective as possible.

1. Call the senator's office (Senator Coleman, 202-224-5641; Senator Klobuchar, 202-224-3244)

2. Once connected, tell the person who answers that you are a constituent. Give him or her your name and address. Ask them to tell the senator the following: Please support the Menendez amendment on 'International Adaptation' to the Climate Security Act. Instead of giving away greenhouse gas permits for free to major oil companies, we should shift those permits to increase funding to help poor countries around the world adapt to climate change.

3. Once you are finished, hang up and repeat the instructions for your other senator. Then let us know what they said."

Thank you! Feel free to get in touch with us. We want to hear from you!