Statement: Senate committee releases ambitious new climate report

Media Contacts
Jamie Lockwood

Senate leaders lay out roadmap for robust action to cut planet-warming emissions

Environment North Carolina

RALEIGH– The Senate Democrats’ Special Committee on the Climate Crisis released a long-awaited report Tuesday, making the case for comprehensive climate solutions that would meet the goal of net zero carbon emissions by 2050. This scientific target, set in 2018 by the International Panel on Climate Change, would keep the Earth from warming more than 1.5 degrees, avoiding the worst impacts of global warming. 

Jamie Lockwood, Climate and Clean Energy Associate, Environment North Carolina: 

“The plan released by the Senate today is a start. To solve the climate crisis, we’ll need bold solutions, including 100-percent renewable energy to power our society and an expedited transition to clean transportation. That’s why we’re calling for all new cars to be electric by 2035, all buses to be electric by 2030, and to double the number of people who travel on foot, bike or public transit by 2030. 

“From coast to coast, the case for taking uncompromising action on climate change could not be clearer. Lightning and extreme heat have combined to devastate California, Colorado and other western states. North Carolina and our neighbors are braving two tropical storms that are simultaneously threatening the Gulf Coast, fueled by unusually warm waters. And in the Midwest, Americans continue to reel from the unexpected devastation caused by a derecho.

“The Senate committee deserves praise for recognizing the massive problems we face with the changing climate, but we now look forward to pushing for bipartisan efforts to get bold climate solutions implemented as quickly as possible.”