In Anticipation of Critical Senate Vote, Speakers Call on the US Senate to Act Now on Climate, Justice, Clean Energy, and Jobs
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – Today, a diverse group of Nevada elected officials, climate advocates, and clean energy business leaders convened for a press conference to encourage Nevada Senators Catherine Cortez Masto and Jacky Rosen to push for immediate passage of critical climate investments outlined in the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022. The historic measure, which is expected to be voted on within the coming days, represents the largest investment ever to address climate change, environmental justice, and an equitable transition to clean energy. These investments will save families money and help tackle inflation. According to recent polling, two in three Americans support this legislation.
“As public servants, we have an obligation both to help our constituents overcome the immediate economic stresses we are all facing and to confront the long-term ramifications of climate change,” said State Senator Dallas Harris. “The Inflation Reduction Act is exactly the kind of legislation we need to address the problems of today and tomorrow. It takes a pragmatic approach that will create jobs, reduce pollution, and put us on the path to a sustainable clean energy economy. I thank Senators Cortez Masto and Rosen for their past support and work on climate issues and urge them to help lead this critical legislation to passage.”
Speakers stressed that time is running out to address the climate crisis. Climate change is making extreme weather events more frequent and severe, with communities across the state paying the price. From 2010 to 2020, Nevada experienced 12 extreme weather events, costing the state up to $1 billion in damages. More than 40% of Americans experienced a climate change-fueled extreme weather event in 2021 alone.
“We’ve set ambitious goals at the state level and have a lot of hardworking people doing everything in their power to move Las Vegas and Nevada forward on climate readiness,” said State Assemblyman Howard Watts. “But this is a generational crisis that requires a national response. Aggressive, determined action is highly overdue at the federal level, and we simply cannot afford the cost of inaction any longer. Senators Cortez Masto and Rosen are proven leaders who care deeply about the next generation of Nevadans, and we’re counting on them to help pass the Inflation Reduction Act.”
If passed, this measure will help slash climate pollution in the U.S. by an estimated 40 percent by 2030 and help protect future generations of Nevadans from the detrimental effects of extreme weather made more frequent and severe due to climate change. The proposed measures will also bolster the growth of Nevada’s booming clean energy economy and reduce energy bills for working families.
“Here in Las Vegas, climate change is not some distant hypothetical, but a clear and present danger that threatens some of our most vulnerable communities,” said Johnathan Lytle of the Nevada Conservation League. “This legislation is not only critical to mitigating global climate change, but also represents an opportunity for real environmental justice – delivering critical clean energy development, economic relief, improved public health, and investments in economic growth for those who need it most. This is not just a matter of science, but a matter of justice as well, and we must pass the Inflation Reduction Act without further delay.”