Global warming continues to be a hot-button political issue, particularly as the 2016 presidential election draws closer. Defined as a gradual increase in the earth’s overall temperature, climate advocates attribute increased levels of carbon dioxide and other atmospheric pollutants to the man-made greenhouse effect.
Here are five leading climate advocates in Washington, D.C., and what they are doing to educate the public as well as fight global warming.
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1. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island is co-chair and co-founder of the Bicameral Task Force on Climate Change and the bipartisan Senate Oceans Caucus. “I speak out on climate change each week because the cost of Congress’ inaction is too high for our communities, our kids, and our futures,”
he said on his website, which also offers videos of his “Time to Wake Up” speeches which keep viewers current on his work on climate change.
2. Sen. Barbara Boxer of California is considered a leading leading champion of environment protection. Currently, she chairs the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee and continues to lead efforts in the senate to fight global warming as well as create clean energy jobs.
3. On the subject of climage change, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has been making the rounds at political events that pertain to climate change.
On his Senate website, Reid says, "Climate change is one of the greatest challenges of our time. The United States accounts for approximately 4.5 percent of the world’s population, yet it is responsible for about 20 percent of the world’s climate changing pollution." At a recent National Clean Energy Summit in Las Vegas, Reid addressed the issue stating that the U.S. has been facing extreme weather events and that, unless action is taken, the situation could become catastrophic.
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4. Sen. Jeff Merkley of Oregon has taken a strong stance against climate change. He asserts that carbon pollution is having a catastrophic effect on the nation’s farming, fishing, and forestry industries. Merkley supports the use of solar and wind power, which also promotes new jobs in the clean energy sector.
5. Ted Lieu, newly elected to replace Henry Waxman in California’s 33rd congressional district,
posts on his website, "Climate change is the single greatest threat to California, our nation's future and our environment. As a member of Congress, I will champion legislation to reduce carbon pollution in the U.S." He was named an “Environmental Champion” by Environment California. Amongst goals during is his term, he plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S.; strengthen the Clean Air Act, including holding polluters accountable when they have illegal emission discharges into the air; increase and expand renewable energy requirements for utilities; and increase and expand incentives for increased development in renewable energy.
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