Inside the Greenhouse is a monthly newsletter about FCNL’s environmental work, ways to engage members of Congress, and stories that impact our work.
Environmental Stewardship: Two Opportunities to Learn
FCNL is hosting a two-part climate change event on Wednesday, April 10. At 9:00 a.m. EDT I will lead a training on how to lobby Congress for climate action at FCNL’s Quaker Welcome Center. Join in person or via livestream. At 6:30 p.m. EDT, Emily Wirzba will lead a panel on environmental stewardship. RSVP to join in person or online.
Students Strike for Climate
On March 15, roughly 1.4 million young people participated in 1,700 walkouts across 123 countries. They took to the streets to advocate for aggressive action on climate change. The movement began in the fall of 2018 when Swedish activist Greta Thunberg began skipping classes every Friday to demonstrate in front of the Stockholm parliament building. Other students, inspired by Greta’s leadership, began to take action.
These students recognized that, unless bold action is taken, their adult lives will begin just as the world exceeds its carbon budget. This will make it much more difficult to keep global temperatures from rising more than 1.5 degrees Celsius. As one activist stated, “Ignorance isn’t bliss. It’s death. It’s a crime against our future.”
Storms Flood U.S. Midwest, Southern Africa
On March 15, Cyclone Idai devastated Mozambique, Zimbabwe, and Malawi. Approximately 750 people were killed, nearly 60,000 homes were destroyed, and a widespread outbreak of disease is likely to follow due to compromised sanitation systems.
In the Midwest, snowmelt from a recent “bomb cyclone” caused flooding that killed three people and has caused at least $3 billion in damage. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration forecasts that flooding could worsen through early summer as water flows downstream through the Mississippi and Missouri River Basins.
Both disasters provide yet more evidence of climate change’s impact, which most harms those who are already disadvantaged and oppressed.
House Democrats Introduce Climate Action Now Act
Speaker Nancy Pelosi (CA-12) introduced H.R. 9, the Climate Action Now Act. The act would prohibit the United States from using funds to withdraw from the Paris Climate Agreement, and require the president to develop a plan to meet the emissions reductions goals the U.S. initially promised the global community.
Stay tuned for Updates on the Climate Solutions Caucus in the 116th Congress
News and Updates
FCNL’s Diane Randall and Emily Wirzba accompanied Quaker Karen Putney on a meeting with House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis Chair Kathy Castor.
Interfaith Climate Webinar
FCNL’s Emily Wirzba will speak on an interfaith webinar on April 11, about the state of federal climate policy. Watch the recording.
Rep. Tonko Introduces Climate Principles
Rep. Paul Tonko (NY-20), the chair of the Energy and Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Environment and Climate Change, introduced a framework to measure climate legislation.
Faith Leaders Urge Stop to Mercury Regulation Rollback
FCNL joined 18 other religious organizations in sending a letter urging Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Andrew Wheeler not to roll back life-saving Mercury and Air Toxic Standards.
