Contact: Johanna Kichton, 240.206.1145, [email protected]

WASHINGTON, D.C.—People’s Action released the following statement from Climate Justice Campaign Director Kaniela Ing after Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer called on President Biden to endorse the THRIVE Agenda and declare a climate emergency for the United States:

“This echoes the demands of thousands of grassroots organizers, the declarations of 1,864 jurisdictions worldwide, and the votes of millions of climate-conscious citizens who propelled President Biden to victory. 

“Folks have wondered what Democrats’ first big push will be, and now we know it’s comprehensive climate action. Majority Leader Chuck Schumer is doing right by backing a bold agenda that’s rooted in our communities. Now, it’s time for Joe Biden to step into the mantle of the climate president by declaring a climate emergency and aligning his unprecedented $2 trillion investment plan to the principles of THRIVE.

“Many of our communities have already been devastated by wildfires, floods, heatwaves, and if we don’t move, this will only get worse. We need our Democratic leaders to deliver on their promises to transform our economy and build a just recovery with us—with or without Republicans.”

The THRIVE Agenda was crafted by People’s Action and other grassroots groups and is a comprehensive jobs and justice-centered plan to recover from economic crisis and avert climate catastrophe. The agenda calls for climate, labor, and racial justice: specifically, 100% clean energy by 2035; the PRO-act for worker justice; and, investing $2 trillion in green jobs and infrastructure with 40% directed to environmental justice communities.

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People’s Action is a national network of 37 state and local grassroots, power-building organizations united in fighting for justice. We operate the largest progressive rural organizing project in the country. People’s Action and its member organizations coordinated one of the biggest distributed organizing programs in rural areas this election season.