The Act, also known as the Kerry-Boxer Bill (S. 1733), is designed to cut pollution, generate green jobs, strengthen security, and invest in international climate adaptation, among other functions. A draft was released on September 30. The Kerry-Boxer Bill has close parallels to its US House counterpart, the American Clean Energy and Security Act, which was approved by that chamber in June.
As described in this Oxfam America press release welcoming the Kerry-Boxer Bill, the current draft recognizes the need for international climate adaptation projects but does not yet allocate funding. International adaptation projects empower vulnerable communities struggling with the effects of climate change to better cope with its devastating consequences. These simple projects save lives and livelihoods, prevent forced migration, and help break cycles of poverty. Click here to watch a YouTube video about such a project in El Salvador. While each project is highly cost-effective, the total need for adaptation funds was recently estimated at $75 - $100 billion per year.The Kerry-Boxer Bill is an opportunity to make a small but meaningful contribution toward this need. We call on Senators Franken and Klobuchar to remember the world's poor and make international adaptation funding a priority - and we ask you to do the same. Please take a moment to contact them today, and ask their offices to ensure that at least 3% of emission allowances in the Kerry-Boxer Bill are devoted to international adaptation.
Save the Date!
Take a stand with hundreds of news friends at the 350 Climate Action Day at the Minnesota State Capitol on Saturday, October 24 at 12pm. The rally, a joint effort of 1 Sky, Oxfam America, and the Will Steger Foundation, will be a powerful demonstration of support for real action on climate change. US Representative Keith Ellison and State Representative Kate Knuth will be speaking, along with others to be announced soon. Stay tuned for details!
