A pro-climate-action majority changes everything
It almost didn’t happen.
Yes, Congress passed a bill in 2022 that has catalyzed clean energy deployment, spurred cleantech job growth, and cut emissions—but it almost didn’t.
When Senator Joe Manchin walked away from the Build Back Better Act (remember that?) in December 2021, climate advocates started to despair that meaningful federal climate legislation might never cross the finish line.
Thanks to the tireless efforts of climate champions in the House and Senate, the Biden-Harris administration, and the hundreds of Hill staffers, policy analysts, and scientists working behind the scenes—not to mention many thousands of climate advocates like us—the most ambitious federal climate law in U.S. history finally passed in August 2022 (we love you Inflation Reduction Act). But it took months (arguably decades) of heated debate, negotiations, and a nail-biting, whiplash-inducing summer of will-they-won’t-they to get there.
What if climate legislation could be different?
What if the majority of elected officials were serious about taking action on climate change? What if our representatives spent less time debating the need for climate action, and more time developing and passing science-backed laws that deliver clean energy jobs and tax credits to their constituents?
A pro-climate-action majority changes the game entirely. When the majority of elected officials want to pass climate policies, it creates a political environment where climate action is not just possible, but ambitious and prioritized. A pro-climate-action majority at all levels of government is a vision for the future—the near future—where we effectively mobilize voters and support climate champions up and down the ballot. And thanks to Minnesota, we already have some evidence of its potential...
What we can learn from Minnesota: The Power of the Trifecta
In 2022, voters elected climate-conscious leaders to Minnesota’s governorship, state house, and state senate—a trifecta majority that could expedite meaningful, on-the-ground climate action.
Under the leadership of Governor Tim Walz, Minnesota passed the “100% Carbon Free Energy by 2040” bill, one of the most ambitious clean energy mandates in the country. The law requires all Minnesota utilities to provide 100 percent carbon-free electricity by 2040. It also includes provisions for workforce development, ensuring that the transition to clean energy supports job creation and economic growth within the state.
The pro-climate-action majority also drafted, negotiated, and passed several new climate policy laws with meaningful, measurable impacts:
Energy efficiency standards will lower emissions from new commercial buildings.
A transportation bill will increase funding for public transit and bike infrastructure.
A 2023 budget package includes rooftop solar for schools and other public buildings, an EV rebate program, and grants and rebates for heat pumps and electric panel upgrades.
In less than two years, the state has become the Midwest's beacon of clean energy innovation, all because Minnesotans elected a pro-climate-action majority in 2022.
How to replicate that success by electing more pro-climate-action majorities
A pro-climate-action majority unlocks the potential for systematic changes to decarbonize our infrastructure. Minnesota’s example shows that when climate champions control both the executive and legislative branches, they can overcome the gridlock that often hinders progress. This opens the door to comprehensive, far-reaching laws that not only address climate change but also promote social equity, economic growth, and public health.
Constituents have already experienced the direct benefits of climate-driven leadership across various sectors, further normalizing the widespread support for climate policies.
In this election, we have the power to support leaders committed to tackling climate change. The 2024 Elections Action Roadmap outlines key strategies to mobilize voters and engage people you know in supporting climate champions up and down the ballot. Top recommendation: level-up your next get-together!
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