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PRESS RELEASE: Broad Coalition Launches “Confirm Climate” Campaign

Broad Coalition Launches “Confirm Climate” Campaign

Campaign Aims to Advance President-Elect Biden’s Nominees for Critical Climate-Related Positions

Washington, DC — Today, nearly 30 of America’s top environmental, public health, climate change, public lands, and progressive public interest groups launched “Confirm Climate,” a national campaign encouraging swift confirmation of President-elect Joe Biden’s nominees to help the new administration achieve its goal of enacting the most ambitious climate policy agenda in history. 

Confirm Climate will promote and defend nominees to key cabinet level climate and sub-cabinet level positions across the federal government. Confirm Climate will also build urgency in Congress and the new administration for bold action to address the climate crisis, and particularly highlight the need to center our energy and environmental policy in environmental justice. Confirm Climate will engage key Senators to support nominees during the confirmation process.  

President-elect Biden has already rolled out an ambitious plan to address the climate crisis and he understands that now it is #TimeToAct. He has nominated a slate of climate changemakers who will implement his ambitious plan to limit and reduce industry pollution while protecting public health, the climate, and the economy. 

The members of Confirm Climate include: Alaska Wilderness League, Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments, Black Millennials for Flint, Center for American Progress, Clean Air Moms Action, Climate Reality Project, Defend Our Future, EarthJustice, Elected Officials to Protect America, Environmental Defense Fund, Environmental Law and Policy Center, Evangelical Environmental Network, Green The Church, Gullah/Geechee Sea Island Coalition, Healthy Environment Alliance (HEAL) of Utah, Interfaith Power and Light, Justice for Migrant Women, League of Conservation Voters, MIT Alumni for Climate Action, Mormon Environmental Stewardship Alliance, National Wildlife Federation, Natural Resources Defense Council, North Carolina Business Council, Ocean Conservancy, PoderLatinx, Sierra Club, The Wilderness Society, and Young Elected Officials Network/People for the American Way. 

Learn more about Confirm Climate at www.ConfirmClimate.org and follow us on twitter @ConfirmClimate.

Below are statements from leaders of Confirm Climate: 

“Protecting Alaska’s major carbon-storing landscapes including the Tongass National Forest and Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is critical to addressing the current climate crisis. It is critical that the incoming administration, particularly President-elect Biden’s nominees for climate-related positions across federal agencies, recognize Alaska’s position on the front lines of climate change and the need to ensure the climate resiliency of its frontline communities. America’s public lands should play a large role in our nation’s climate solutions, and Alaska is unique in its ability to store large amounts of carbon dioxide and other heat-trapping gases. Addressing oil and gas leasing and development in America’s largest national wildlife refuge and the clearcutting of our largest national forest must be front and center for the incoming administration.” – Leah Donahey, legislative director at Alaska Wilderness League.

“As healthcare professionals, we know that immediate climate action is crucial to protecting public health. The climate crisis is already taking lives, exacerbating underlying conditions, and taxing our healthcare infrastructure. The Senate must confirm Biden’s slate of climate nominees, as coordination at every level of the administration will be key to implementing Biden’s climate plan and finally tackling pollution and the climate crisis.” – Katie Huffling, R.N., Executive Director of Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments

“In order to #BuildBackBetter, we must first acknowledge that America has not been “good” to those Americans who are Black, Latinx, and Indigenous. By confirming climate as a priority, our country will move one step closer to reaching environmental justice, restorative justice, and transformative justice.” — LaTricea D. Adams, MAT, EdS, Black Millennials For Flint

“Just like our response to the COVID-19 pandemic, our climate crisis demands a government that recognizes the size of the challenge and reaches for science-based solutions. Averting the biggest challenge we’ve ever faced requires people dedicated to responding to it by using every tool available to them. It is time for Congress to act by confirming President Biden’s nominees for the important task of ensuring that all Americans have clean air to breathe, safe water to drink, and a healthy climate future ahead.” – Christy Goldfuss, senior vice president for Energy and Environment Policy at CAP

“The climate crisis impacts every aspect of our lives. A Biden cabinet that meets this reality with the urgency and scale it demands will require a team of climate-focused nominees in every department. These nominees should be swiftly confirmed by Congress, to begin the work of holistically attacking the climate crisis head on. This approach could grow the economy while addressing environmental injustices that have afflicted communities – particularly Black, Indigenous and brown communities – for generations, and that’s something that would be really exciting for a lot of young people.” – Matt Oberhoffner, Director, Defend Our Future

“President-elect Biden ran on the most ambitious climate platform in presidential history, and his team will play a crucial role in achieving his vision. We call on the Senate to promptly confirm his nominees. The American people deserve bold leaders who will confront the climate crisis and advance environmental justice.” – Marty Hayden, Vice President of Policy & Legislation, Earthjustice

“The Biden Administration will have a chance to rebuild our economy stronger, better, and cleaner than it was before. Congress should quickly confirm President-Elect Biden’s nominees so that they can lead a recovery that grows our economy, fights climate change and addresses environmental injustices that have persisted for generations.” – Elizabeth Gore, Senior Vice President, Political Affairs, Environmental Defense Fund

“President-elect Biden’s climate team is a breath of fresh air.  They will be dedicated to protecting people’s health, improving the environment, and ensuring that the United States will once again be a global leader in advancing climate change solutions. We have shown in the Midwest that accelerating clean energy development is good for jobs and good for the environment. The President-elect’s climate change priorities need a strong team ready to move forward on day one. Congress should be ready to confirm this team.” – Howard A. Learner, Executive Director, Environmental Law & Policy Center

“As a small ray of hope for ending the COVID-19 crisis shines on the United States, we encourage the Senate to quickly confirm all of President-elect Biden’s nominees. Our new President needs his team in place to start restoring America’s economy right away. As we continue to face the devastating impacts of COVID-19, it is vital that we create clean jobs in order to curb the pollution that exacerbated COVID symptoms, especially for frontline communities and communities of color. Any economic recovery plan ought to prioritize a clean energy transition in order to create family-sustaining jobs and start us on the path of combating climate change. Climate change is the greatest moral challenge of our time, but it is also the greatest opportunity for hope and sustainable prosperity. The people in America want climate action and unity from our leaders, and this must start with upholding the historical precedent that allows for a president to choose their team. It is time to work together and seek solutions that will help all of God’s children.” – Rev. Mitchell C. Hescox, President/C.E.O. Evangelical Environmental Network

“Living on the front shorelines of climate change, we can assure the world that it is past time for #climateaction! As we take time to act on climate, we must include protecting cultural heritage communities as part of the actions we take. So, we are standing up with others to Confirm Climate is an issue for all of us and if we all work together, we can change the climate for the better.” – Queen Quet, Founder of the Gullah/Geechee Sea Island Coalition

“Climate change is one of the most pressing issues of our time and there is no time to waste. From environmental justice to a just transition, we need ambitious leaders at the helm who are ready to get our country back on track to protect our public health, our natural world, and our future generations from the impacts of climate change. The Confirm Climate campaign will hold the new administration accountable to ensure nominees are dedicated to doing just that.” – Grace Olscamp, the Healthy Environment Alliance of Utah

“Interfaith Power & Light supports cabinet and leadership nominations who will champion climate justice. We believe this diverse group of experienced policy makers will help create jobs, protect public health and address environmental injustice. People of faith are called to protect God’s Creation, and to love and care for our neighbors, especially those who are disproportionately harmed by climate pollution and climate disasters. A recent poll found that more than 8 in 10 faith voters saw their responsibility to care for God’s Creation as a reason to act on the climate crisis. We look forward to working with these nominees to protect our air, water, and lands and to create a better world for the next generation.”  – Bill Bradlee, National Organizing Director, Interfaith Power and Light

“Over 80 million voters have given the Biden-Harris administration the strongest ever mandate to act on climate and environmental justice, and we need an all-star team of climate policy experts in leadership positions throughout the government to get it done. We are thrilled to turn the page on the most anti-environmental president in history and to get to work with the Biden-Harris administration to build back better.” – Gene Karpinski, President of the League of Conservation Voters

“There is no vaccine available to save us from our climate crisis. Without immediate action and strong leadership, our climate crisis will lead to a series of climate tipping points, burdening ecosystems and human society for generations to come. To avoid the devastating effects of climate change, science and technology-based interventions are essential across the energy, transportation, building, industry, and agriculture sectors. The climate leadership team nominated by the Biden-Harris administration and supported by Confirm Climate is essential to address this existential global problem.” – Shiladitya DasSarma, Ph.D., MIT Alumni for Climate Action Founder

“In addition to a global health pandemic, we have witnessed this year devastating wildfires, flooding, hurricanes and storms, drought, heat waves, and many other natural disasters in the U.S and across the globe. Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are always at the forefront of global humanitarian relief, and offer helping hands to support the individuals, families and communities that suffer and are impacted. We also know that we cannot ignore or hope away climate change, the root cause behind so many of these increasingly devastating disasters. Mormon Environmental Stewardship Alliance is committed to the vital work of implementing real climate change solutions, whether as individuals and households, or as communities and nations. We strongly support a renewed leadership that makes climate change our shared national interest and priority.” – Soren Simonsen, FAIA, AICP, LEED AP, Founding Board Member & Administrator, Mormon Environmental Stewardship Alliance. 

“Confronting climate change head-on is critical to protect frontline communities, bolster resilience to natural disasters, and create thousands of clean energy jobs. We look forward to working with the coalition, Congress, and the Biden Administration to confirm dedicated climate experts and advance climate solutions based on the best available science that deliver for people and wildlife alike.” David DeGennaro, climate and biofuels policy specialist at the National Wildlife Federation

“Joe Biden and Kamala Harris have laid out the strongest national plan ever to confront the climate crisis. They’re assembling an experienced, respected team with an unprecedented commitment to reversing climate change and building a safer, cleaner and more equitable world. These nominees deserve swift confirmation. They are sending loud and clear signals they are ready to meet the moment and move our country toward a just and equitable 100 percent clean energy future.” – John Bowman, managing director for Government Affairs at NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council)

“We are already feeling the effects of climate change across the country, including in coastal and frontline communities that are facing sea level rise and worsening storms. It is necessary to have a rapid and ambitious response to the climate crisis that includes all parts of the federal government. The Senate must confirm leaders who will advance science-informed solutions to the interrelated climate, economic, and social justice crises.” – Gwynne Taraska, Director, Climate Program, Ocean Conservancy

“Millions of Latinx voters helped deliver the most powerful position in the country to Biden. Millions of Latinx are also harmed by inaction on climate change. Our vote was a collective mandate for an executive branch that will take bold steps to get us back on the right path from day one. We expect to see agencies that reflect the diversity of the electorate and to be driven by the ambitious climate agenda shared with the American electorate during the campaign.”  – Poder Latinx Co-executive Director, Esteban Garces.

“President-Elect Joe Biden was elected with a decisive mandate to provide the bold, equitable, and sustainable solutions needed to address the climate crisis. With each appointment and nominee he names, Biden has demonstrated a clear commitment using a whole of the government approach to the crisis. These nominees must be swiftly confirmed so they can quickly turn their attention to building back better.” – Sierra Club Executive Director Michael Brune

“We have lived with the impacts of the climate crisis for generations and deserve leaders at agencies who understand the challenges faced by environmental justice communities and have a demonstrated commitment to addressing them. This is our moment to confirm climate-focused nominees who will work to center mitigation and remediation; deliver energy democracy; implement rigorous clean air and water standards; and ensure that overburdened communities are at the decision-making table. We are ready to work with the White House, 117th Congress and all stakeholders to advance bold and equitable solutions that make tangible the idea of “justice for all.” – Peggy Shepard, Co-Founder & Executive Director, WE ACT for Environmental Justice

“Confronting the crises of climate change, nature loss, and widespread injustice begins by confirming strong leaders to manage our federal agencies.  People across the country voted for action in November, and now is the time for Congress to do its job by confirming nominees who are ready to tackle these urgent crises.”- Drew McConville, Senior Managing Director for Government Relations, The Wilderness Society