Climate change is here and already changing our world. Bold climate action is needed now!
The evidence of climate change is all around us. More frequent and intense storms. Deadly heat waves and massive wild fires. Melting glaciers, rising sea levels and coastal flooding. These rapid and devastating changes highlight the urgent need for action — by all of us — as individuals and collectively — in our communities, at the state and federal levels, and internationally.
The League, with its nonpartisan, reasoned voice, has an opportunity and a particularly critical role to play in building consensus and advancing effective solutions to the climate crisis. It's clear that we are facing a climate emergency, but there is still time to act. This toolkit provides action plans and resources that Leagues and League members can use to
- engage people in their community in taking steps to save energy and reduce their carbon footprint,
- work with their community to set emissions-reduction goals and then develop and implement a plan to achieve those goals, and
- build grassroots support for strong climate action at the state and federal levels.
NOTE. At the 2020 LWVUS Convention, Climate Change was declared to be an urgent issue for action across the League. To advance this work, the LWV Climate Interest Group has formed. League members from across the country are sharing informaton and strategies and forming nationwide teams on climate topics of mutual interest. All League members are welcome! To learn more, please visit the LWV Climate Interest Group website.
MORE. On February 10, 2021, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals voted NOT to review a January 2020 decision by a three-judge panel granting the Trump Adminsitration's petition to dismiss the landmark climate lawsuit, Juliana et al v United States, brought in August 2015 by 21 young people, who argue that the federal government is violating their constitutional rights by promoting the development and use of fossil fuels, despite knowing for decades that fossil fuels are destroying the climate system. The plaintiffs are now awaiting a ruling on their motion for leave to file an amended complaint, and the League is prepared to continue its support of their efforts.
>> A timeline of events in the lawsuit is available here.
MORE. Learn about major climate action initiatives underway at the state and local levels here.
AND, In January 2019, the LWVUS Board approved a position statement on climate change. This position statement as well as climate-related resolutions approved at recent LWVUS Conventions is available here.
Taking part in LWVUS and global action initiatives
Keep up-to-date with LWVUS work on Climate Change. Make sure you and your members receive LWVUS Action Alerts.
Take part in global climate action events in your community. Join millions of people around the world in marking Earth Hour, 8:30pm-9:30pm local time, on the last Saturday in March. And join millions more in celebrating Earth Day on April 22.
Last updated: 2/2/2022