Why We Can’t Afford to Lose FEMA: Lessons from Hurricane Helene and Beyond

A blog by Elle Falkowski, CCAN Carol Brantley Climate Justice Policy Fellow

Throughout my three years at Wake Forest University, North Carolina has become my home away from home. One of my favorite parts of attending school in North Carolina is experiencing fall in the mountains. The leaves turn into the prettiest orange I’ve ever seen, and the weather is always perfect for weekend walks, giving me the perfect escape when classes get too stressful.

Folk Art Center, Buncombe County, NC after Hurricane Helene Oct. 2024

This past fall, however, was different. Hurricane Helene came crashing through North Carolina, destroying everything in its path. While thankfully, my campus was spared, many in my community experienced unimaginable pain after their homes were destroyed by the roaring flood waves, which were only intensified by Asheville’s mountain slopes.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) final report on Hurricane Helene referred to the hurricane as “the most devastating natural disaster in western North Carolina’s history,” reporting more than 125,000 housing units destroyed or damaged. Since then, the Western Carolina community has worked tirelessly to rebuild. 

 
FEMA’s Role in Disaster Recovery is Essential – But Not Without Flaws

After Hurricane Helene, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) provided critical aid to help North Carolina residents recover. Within three weeks of the disaster, FEMA approved more than $38 million in grants for Buncombe County to remove debris and begin cleanup. It also provided Asheville residents with individual assistance in several areas, including helping with the costs of hotels, home repairs, and child care. By October 18, 2024, FEMA approved over $115 million to be distributed to over 85,000 households in Western North Carolina.

Members of the South Carolina’s Helicopter Aquatic Rescue Team perform rescue operations in Port Arthur, Texas, August 31, 2017.

However, FEMA’s response to Hurricane Helene and several other extreme weather disasters has not been perfect. Survivors of these disasters consistently express deep frustrations about their experiences with FEMA. Many have noted that FEMA’s eligibility definitions lack clarity and are not adaptable to the unique and complicated domestic situations of many American families.

For example, FEMA does not provide clear guidance on how separated parents living in a shared household should apply for FEMA’s individual assistance program.As a result, one Texas family was improperly advised to file separate applications, leading to both parents being denied desperately needed aid. FEMA’s lack of clarity regarding unique situations prevents otherwise eligible families from receiving the help they need. 

Another common complaint against FEMA is its slow distribution of aid. According to a 2024 report by the National Infrastructure Advisory Council, FEMA responds to a new major disaster declaration every three to four days, while simultaneously managing hundreds of older disasters. As a result, FEMA’s workforce is stretched incredibly thin, preventing the agency from distributing necessary resources in a timely manner. Survivors in North Carolina experienced these delays firsthand as they attempted to prepare for Hurricane Helene.

Anticipating damage to their water system, officials in North Carolina’s Buncombe County submitted requests for pre-disaster water distribution just before Hurricane Helene struck. However, Buncombe County did not receive its first shipment of water until several days after the hurricane, leaving thousands of survivors dehydrated after the county’s water system was damaged.

The Congressional Debate Over Federal Disaster Relief: What’s at Stake? 

In response to frustrating experiences like these, some policymakers are pushing to eliminate all federal involvement in disaster relief, including FEMA. However, as I am extensively researching FEMA through my fellowship at CCAN, it has become clear to me that while our current federal disaster recovery programs are far from perfect, federal support in disaster recovery is still essential. 

Forty Myers, FL following Hurricane Irma September 14, 2017

Before FEMA was established, federal disaster relief was very disorganized and lacking in clear direction because no single federal agency was responsible for coordinating and implementing disaster relief. After the 1964 Alaska earthquake, President Lyndon B. Johnson had to set up a temporary government commission to oversee and lead recovery efforts because the government was unprepared to handle the demanding task.

In 1978, the National Governors Association asked President Jimmy Carter to create a more cohesive federal emergency management structure, prompting FEMA’s creation in 1979. Since then, FEMA  has provided critical aid to states in the aftermath of extreme weather disasters.

The 1988 Stafford Disaster Relief and Assistance Act, also known as the Stafford Act, enables the President to make a presidential disaster declaration, formally announcing that recovery warrants federal support from FEMA. Then, with funding provided by the Congressionally-appropriated Disaster Relief Fund, FEMA provides financial support to state and local governments after disasters by reimbursing them for recovery projects they could not afford to pay for on their own.

The federal government is also able to administer individual assistance programs through FEMA, such as offering individuals up to $750 for immediate relief needs through the Serious Needs Assistance Program and up to $42,500 to help rebuild homes. FEMA supplements the state’s recovery abilities by providing financial resources that the state cannot otherwise provide.

The Rising Cost of Extreme Weather Disasters and the Need for Federal Support in Recovery
Effects of Hurricane Helene (2024) in Virginia

Since 1979, the cost of recovery has increased beyond state budget capacities. As the climate crisis intensifies, the costs of extreme weather events are expected to skyrocket, exacerbating budgetary limitations that states are already experiencing. In 1980, there were only three presidentially declared disasters for which recovery costs exceeded $1 billion. Recovery costs amounted to $45.6 billion that year, with most of the money funding recovery from the 1980 drought.

In 2024, the US experienced 27 billion-dollar disasters, amounting to $184.8 billion in recovery costs, with $125.3 billion going towards recovery from hurricanes. America’s population and material wealth have increased exponentially since 1980 and and these costs will only continue to escalate.

States that are particularly vulnerable to climate disasters will face the greatest impact if FEMA is eliminated and recovery costs rise. Of the 27 billion-dollar extreme weather disasters in 2024, 11 caused significant destruction in Florida. Since 2017, FEMA has committed almost $20 billion to cover Florida’s resulting recovery costs.

Without FEMA, states like Florida will lose access to critical financial resources during recovery and crumble under the cost of repeated disasters. States simply cannot afford to lose federal assistance. Without FEMA’s support, mounting budgetary burdens will hinder effective recovery and leave states weak and vulnerable.

Building a Stronger FEMA for Tomorrow’s Challenges

Even though FEMA’s current services are far from perfect, the agency is still essential to the disaster recovery process. States simply cannot handle the burden of recovery on their own and need federal support. As lawmakers continue to debate the future of federal disaster relief, we must recognize the necessity of FEMA. Rather than eliminating the agency, we should focus on improving federal disaster relief initiatives to build a more resilient nation.

A blog by Elle Falkowski, CCAN Carol Brantley Climate Justice Policy Fellow

LIHEAP in Crisis: State Leaders, Advocates Warn HHS Cuts Put Low-Income Families at Risk of Utility Shutoffs and Health Emergencies

Maryland, Virginia, and DC lawmakers highlight devastating impact of eliminating the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)

WASHINGTON, DC – A diverse coalition of elected officials, advocacy groups, and impacted residents held a press conference today outside of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) office in Washington, D.C., urging HHS to reverse drastic staff and funding cuts for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). The press conference, organized by regional state leaders including Delegate Lorig Charkoudian (MD District 20), drew attention to how this program serves as a lifeline for millions of low-income Americans who rely on energy assistance to survive extreme weather conditions. 

On April 1, the entire federal staff responsible for administering LIHEAP was dismissed as part of a sweeping reduction at HHS. The abrupt termination of LIHEAP staff threatens the effective distribution of $4.1 billion in critical funding. LIHEAP alone serves approximately 6.7 million households annually, with 40% of them including senior citizens. 

“As state legislators, we work hard to keep energy rates low and protect our most vulnerable residents,” said Delegate Charkoudian, MD District 20. “LIHEAP funding plays a critical role in keeping the heat and electricity on for seniors, veterans, medically fragile individuals, and others who would otherwise have to decide between an electric bill and groceries.” 

“The elimination of LIHEAP would jeopardize vital utility assistance that prevents many low-income families, especially seniors, from having to choose between paying energy bills or buying food and medicine,” said Delegate Irene Shin, VA District 8. “If these federal staffing reductions were to become permanent or lead to broader program cuts, thousands of vulnerable households would face utility disconnections and increased financial hardship without adequate alternative safety nets in place.” 

Advocates at the event warned that, without federal staff to process and distribute funds, low-income families across the country are at risk of utility shutoffs, debt, and health emergencies as summer heat intensifies and local agencies struggle to meet demand.

“I cannot express how much LIHEAP helps with BG&E bills. It makes my life just a little bit easier; without it, it would be a huge crisis,” said Jackie Wright, LIHEAP recipient.

“Having electricity or heat isn’t a luxury — it’s a necessity for everyone, regardless of their income,” said  Dana Wiggins, Virginia Poverty Law Center.

The elimination of LIHEAP staff also raises concerns about the future of the program because there is a possibility that funds already allocated to the program will be withheld, and no funding will be allocated to the program in fiscal year 2026.

“LIHEAP saves lives, and it has helped keep home energy more affordable for over 40 years,” said Olivia Wein, senior attorney at the National Consumer Law Center. “It’s critical that HHS ensure there is no disruption to the administration of the LIHEAP program in order to protect families during future hot summers and cold winters.” 

“It’s about health and safety — keeping the heat on in the winter for very low-income, mostly senior and disabled families,” said Laurel Peltier, Executive Director of Maryland Energy Advocates Coalition. “The Low-Income Heating Assistance Program financial grants are applied directly to our most vulnerable populations’ winter utility bill accounts to make the monthly bill more affordable.”   

Immediately following the press conference, a bipartisan, regional legislator sign-on letter was delivered to key HHS staff, urging swift action to restore LIHEAP’s capacity. The letter currently has 92 legislators signed on. 

“Creating safer, more energy-efficient homes is a critical part of ensuring that all Marylanders can stay in their homes longer, more comfortably, and with fewer risks to their health and wellness,” said Scott Gottbreht, Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development Assistant Secretary for Policy. “The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program supports fundamental human dignity and safety in our communities, and cuts or delays would undermine the stability of working families and the well-being of children throughout the region.”

“We are very concerned about the continued delays by the Trump Administration in releasing the remaining $378 million in LIHEAP funds,” said Mark Wolfe, Executive Director, National Energy Assistance Directors Association. “These funds will help about 750,000 very poor families pay their cooling bills this summer and outstanding utility debt from this year’s cold winter.  And if that wasn’t bad enough, the Administration’s draft budget would zero out LIHEAP, causing unnecessary harm to more than 6 million struggling families in every state of the country.” 

“LIHEAP is a lifeline every year for around 15,000 District residents who fall behind on utility bills,” said Charles Allen, D.C. Councilman Ward 6. “When the air is shut off in the summer or the heat in the winter, it becomes very serious, very quickly – people die. This isn’t a red or blue state issue – it’s about making sure people on a fixed income don’t die of heat stroke. With the entire federal office overseeing the program terminated, I am extremely concerned about how money will get to the people who need it.” 

Click HERE to watch the livestream recording.

Click on photos for full view.

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This event was sponsored by: Members of the Maryland General Assembly, Members of the Virginia House of Delegates, Members of the DC City Council, Chesapeake Climate Action Network, Cancer Support Foundation, National Energy & Utility Affordability Coalition, VA Poverty Law Center, Maryland Energy Advocates Coalition, National Energy Assistance Directors Association, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers 410, National Consumer Law Center, Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development, Maryland Office of People’s Counsel, International Brotherhood of Electric Workers Union 410 (IBEW410), International Brotherhood of Electric Workers Local Union 24 (IBEW 24)

CCAN Condemns Reckless Geoengineering Deployment Amid MAKE SUNSETS Controversy

Climate organization highlights dangers of unregulated solar geoengineering, calls for scientific research and transparency.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Chesapeake Climate Action Network (CCAN) strongly condemns any private entity that recklessly deploys solar geoengineering techniques in any form. A private company called Make Sunsets is trying to make money by releasing sulfur dioxide into the stratosphere via hot air balloons and selling so-called “cooling credits” for every ton of carbon dioxide they offset. (Spoiler: that’s not how offsetting works). CCAN sees this as a scam, designed to make a quick buck off of science that still requires much more extensive research before any decisions can be made about its potential deployment.

CCAN supports careful research on solar geoengineering to better understand this process and what role it could potentially play in temporarily reducing the worst effects of a warming planet while we continue the clean energy transition. We need government-funded and transparent research into the topic, and not unaccountable actions by private entities.

Quentin Scott, Federal Policy Director for the Chesapeake Climate Action Network (CCAN), issued the following statement:   

“The existence of companies like Make Sunsets is precisely why CCAN supports public-funded research and opposes private money in both solar geoengineering testing and deployment. Research must be held to the highest bar, conducted with full transparency, and developed in a way that explicitly benefits the public good – not corporate profit margins.

“CCAN is speaking out in strong opposition to the work of this renegade firm because it is a dangerous distraction from the serious scientific research that needs to be done. However, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) opposition to Make Sunsets is hypocritical and factually inaccurate. EPA says that Make Sunsets may be adversely impacting air quality, but the truth is that the sulfur dioxide that this company releases is dispersed too high in the atmosphere to impact the air we breathe. 

“Additionally, the EPA’s pretense of using the Clean Air Act to threaten Make Sunsets is absurd when the administration is repeatedly attacking that same landmark legislation in the courts, Congress, and public discourse. If the EPA truly stood for the principle of protecting pristine air for all Americans, they would enforce the Clean Air Act provisions that they are Congressionally mandated to enforce instead of making up new ones.” 

Cheating the System: How PJM’s Bias Against Clean Energy Hurts Us All

A blog by Jake Schwartz, CCAN’s Federal Campaigns Manager. 

PJM is cheating. As the nation’s largest regional transmission organization (RTO), with a responsibility to manage and oversee the transmission grid, the Pennsylvania-New Jersey-Maryland Interconnection (PJM) has a responsibility to deliver reliable and affordable energy to regional consumers. No energy is more infinite than that from the sun and wind. Despite this, PJM is prioritizing fossil fuel plants, cheating us out of cheaper clean energy options.  

The Cost of PJM’s Fossil Fuel Dependence

PJM’s costs are skyrocketing and the reason why is clear: fossil fuels are unreliable. While PJM prioritizes future natural gas plants, already-approved clean energy projects are still waiting for interconnection to the electricity grid. The grid works best when PJM can plan years in advance how future energy needs are going to be met; if there’s unreliability, then they have to tap into additional resources, which costs more. While winter disruptions and other infrastructure issues are making fossil fuels more expensive than expected, clean energy is as cheap as ever. They’re prioritizing the wrong thing. 

In February 2025, the much-anticipated Brattle Report, commissioned by a conservative group, determined that prioritizing clean energy will result in more reliability for the grid. We cannot afford the status quo. Cheaper clean energy projects that would lower costs are ready to go – PJM just has to approve their connection to the electricity grid. We’re calling on them to act now. 

 

Delays in Clean Energy Integration

PJM has been delaying the interconnection of clean energy projects while fast-tracking fossil fuel plants in the queue, causing more unreliability. Between 2012 and 2022, PJM added three times more fossil fuel capacity than renewables, a stark contrast to other RTOs that are rapidly integrating clean energy. Over 2,200 renewable energy projects in PJM’s queue have been waiting for years to connect to the grid. This backlog includes enough clean energy capacity to power millions of homes.

Source: Brattle Economic Analysis of Clean Energy Tax Credits Report

Connecting these clean energy projects is more than just the right thing to do for their consumers; it is required by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). FERC Order 1920 requires RTOs like PJM to comprehensively plan for the future, including factoring in a high usage of renewables into their scenario planning. PJM is pushing back and trying to get off the hook for even just planning with clean energy; they seem to be in denial that the future of electricity here in the Chesapeake region is green. 

Debunking PJM’s Flawed Reasoning

RTOs say that American energy consumption is projected to increase significantly by 2050, driven in large part due to new data centers for AI, and that they need fossil fuels that produce electricity 24/7 instead of just when the sun is shining to meet this demand. This is flawed reasoning for multiple reasons. With more efficient data centers and AI models coming out every year, PJM’s energy projections will likely be an overestimate, again. The release of the AI model DeepSeek, which uses ten times less energy than ChatGPT, is proof that our future energy appetite is not insatiable. 

However, even if energy demand does spike, clean energy would still be the economical choice for supply. When paired with battery storage, utility-scale solar and offshore wind is cheaper, more reliable, and limitless, while fossil fuel plants cost more, take longer to build, and are inherently a finite resource. Battery storage can also ramp up much faster than gas plants, making them ideal for grid stability. With sufficient storage, solar can cover energy peaks far more easily than so-called gas peaker plants (the dirtiest kind of gas plant), removing the need to prioritize fossil fuels at all. 

Right now, clean energy developers are building all over the East Coast. PJM needs to overcome its institutional bias of the energies of yesterday and prioritize the electricity of tomorrow – connecting them to the grid now instead of letting gas plants cut the queue – to guarantee the cheaper, cleaner energy future that we all deserve. 

A Call for Change: Get Involved and Advocate for Clean Energy

Friends of Chesterfield Community Meeting on Dominion’s Peaker Plant Thursday, Feb 27, 2025

State governments within PJM’s jurisdiction are already pushing for change by creating voluntary forward clean energy markets to meet their climate goals. There are other actions that governors can take as well. In Pennsylvania, Governor Shapiro worked with PJM to settle a lawsuit and lower the capacity auction price cap by over 20%, averting a runaway auction price that would have unnecessarily increased energy bills. In all, this move by the governor saved consumers $21 billion over two years. 

As PJM electricity rates are expected to rise in June 2025, there is no reason other governors can’t do the same and help lead the clean energy transition, saving their constituents billions in the process. Join the fight for clean energy and against rising utility costs by becoming part of CCAN’s state-based action teams. Together, we can push for reforms that prioritize renewable energy projects, hold PJM accountable, and ensure a sustainable and affordable energy future for all.     

Become an Action Team Member Today!

A blog by Jake Schwartz, CCAN’s Federal Campaigns Manager.    

Hurricane Helene Mutual Aid Resources

Our hearts are with the people of Appalachia, who are currently suffering brutal devastation from climate change-supercharged Hurricane Helene. Those affected need support now more than ever – click the link below to find out how you can lend a hand. 

Then, take action: Tell Congress: Strengthen FEMA’s Disaster Relief Fund for Hurricane Helene recovery

If you know of more resources that we have missed, email info@chesapeakeclimate.org

Over 10,000 Climate Disaster Survivors and Their Allies Demand Federal Investigation of Big Oil for Climate Crimes  

Chesapeake Climate Action Network and Public Citizen delivered today a letter to the Department of Justice (DOJ) demanding that it hold oil and gas companies accountable for fueling climate-driven disasters such as floods, fires, hurricanes, and extreme heat that have destroyed property and taken innocent lives.

Continue reading

Planting the Seeds for a Climate-Smart and Climate-Just Farm Bill

A blog by Jasmine Perez, Federal Climate Justice Fellow

I have always felt drawn to the land. During my summer breaks, I would accompany my dad in our vegetable garden that bordered our tiny, 750-square-foot backyard in Belleville, New Jersey. I distinctly remember the joy that painted my dad’s face with the sight of a new harvest. Whether it was a single cherry tomato, or a bowl overflowing with peppers, eggplants, and kale; the feeling of having grown something that would nourish oneself and one’s loved ones was one of pride, and gratification.

My dad’s backyard garden is just one of the many examples of how my family history is deeply rooted in tending to the land. In the Philippines, my grandfather and great-grandfather worked as chief agriculturalists where they grew mangoes, rice, and bananas for their community. Meanwhile, my grandmother tended an urban garden in Bulacan, Philippines, where you can observe tropical plants vining across barred windows, and stemming from a series of upcycled coffee ground containers sprinkled along on her concrete lawn. Indeed, the “green gene” as I like to call it, never seemed to skip a generation. In me, it manifests in the path that I have chosen to pursue in environmental policy.

Current Farm Bill Debate Spotlights Climate Justice Challenges

This summer, as the Federal Climate Justice Fellow with the Chesapeake Climate Action Network (CCAN), I have conducted research, and assisted in action efforts for a range of federal climate-related policies. The farm bill is one such federal policy that provides essential funding for a range of agriculture and nutrition programs, and Congress renews the farm bill every five years, taking into account the ever-changing needs of agricultural and food-insecure communities across the nation. Because of the essential funding it provides, the farm bill drives much of the decision making in the agriculture industry which emits roughly 10% of the U.S.’s greenhouse gas emissions.

Currently, the key priorities of the farm bill are being deliberated among Congress. While the House-supported farm bill primarily advocates for the interests of big agriculture, the Senate-supported farm bill advocates for the interests of small-scale, rural, and BIPOC-owned farming operations, in addition to further supporting nutrition assistance programs and climate-smart practices. The Senate Agriculture Committee’s farm bill proposal highlights the growing prioritization of equality and justice within the agricultural sector, as it seeks to fund programs and initiatives that would address the concerns of small-scale, rural, and BIPOC-owned farms which have been historically neglected and disenfranchised.

Today, black farmers own less than 1% of U.S. farmland. When examining farms across the U.S., there is a striking disproportionality in the subsidies, or lack thereof, afforded to black farmers for reasons ranging from insufficient acreage to predominantly farming livestock. Further, from a nutritional standpoint, 41.2 million people in the United States relied on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in the 2022 fiscal year. SNAP is a key beneficiary of funding via the farm bill and strives to support food security and nutrition assistance for low-income individuals and families. To put this into perspective, from 2021 to 2022, food insecurity rates among black households jumped 2.6% and that number nearly doubled to 4.6% among Hispanic households. Thus, the question of whether a climate-smart farm bill is passed not only signifies a climate change-related issue, but also, an issue of climate justice. 

Understanding Local Impacts of Farm Policy and Climate Change

However, figures only tell part of the story; which is why in order to truly understand what is at stake, I spoke to two individuals who have deep roots in food cultivation and have agreed to share their stories on the importance of farming, food justice, and fighting for our climate. 

The first is Esperanza Ortega-Tapia, or Espie for short. In addition to working as a NASA Lifelines Fellow, Espie also works as a Research Assistant for the Global Food Institute. Espie began by reminiscing on summers spent alongside her grandparents growing chilis in their garden which is what inspired Espie’s present dedication to food and climate justice.

 “Growing up and having that connection to the land and to the food that we were eating was so commonplace,” Espie recalls. However, because of climate change, they are no longer able to grow chili, a loss that is shared by her family, and by people all around the world who grow food.

 “It is worrying to think about the effects of climate change, traditionally, culturally, and socially,” Espie says. “Climate change is not just about the warming of the planet, it is also about farmers and how their land is dwindling.” 

Though the situation is dire, Espie recognizes that what was lost can be restored with the government’s help. She went on to explain how a Senate-supported farm bill would not only support farmers, but would also support nutrition assistance through SNAP, as well as bolster climate justice at large.

 “Climate justice through a food systems lens means having people be able to grow their own crops, and grow food that is culturally appropriate for them–it means being able to grow chili,” Espie explained.

Climate justice is further magnified in the story of Tanya Doka-Spandhla who is the founder of Passion to Seed Gardening, where she grows culturally appropriate foods for people of the African diaspora. After emigrating to the U.S. from Zimbabwe, Tanya noticed how the produce tasted different.

 “I was used to eating produce that didn’t have any chemicals in it and was grown naturally,” she recalls. This experience, in addition to her roots in backyard gardening with her parents in Zimbabwe, are what planted the seeds for Doka-Spandhla to begin growing her own food in Montgomery County, Maryland. However, the path towards Passion to Seed Gardening was bound with multiple obstacles, from labor costs, theft of produce, and perhaps most of all is climate change. 

“The extreme temperatures have really been a very noticeable factor,” Tanya explains. This challenge is coupled with the fact that small-scale farmers face a range of hurdles to compete against larger commodity farms, such as a lack of government assistance, which is compounded by economic pressures like fluctuating market prices. When asked about what role the government could play in ensuring that she can continue farming, she highlighted the importance of understanding the challenges that small-scale farmers face, such as limiting the barriers to access when it comes to accessing grants. 

Tanya explains, “Whereby you don’t have to go through a lot of paperwork, it just leads to more stress and more challenges on top of what we already experience because as a farmer, my focus is to go into the field and grow whatever I need to grow and make sure that produce is taken where it needs to go.” 

The Power of a Climate-Smart Farm Bill and Backyard Gardens

The Senate-supported farm bill, otherwise known as The Rural Prosperity and Food Security Act of 2024 would help to alleviate many of the challenges that Espie and Tanya mentioned. But, as we await its passing, Tanya shared her unwavering faith in the impact of small-scale farms in the following message:

 “The fact that this food that I am growing naturally is going to feed somebody in a community that would not necessarily be able to access it otherwise, and knowing that I am fulfilling a need is what makes me joyful about the work that I do.” 

With all of this in mind, I am left with the following takeaways. 

The first thing I realized is that without the passing of a climate-smart national farm bill, emissions from big agriculture will continue to see a steady rise, as will rates of food insecurity, and overall climate injustice. But my other biggest takeaway is that there is also so much power and possibility to be found through a simple backyard garden. My garden in New Jersey served as the catalyst to pursue a career in environmental policy. Espie’s chili garden in New Mexico ignited the flame within them to fight for food justice and food sovereignty. Tanya’s garden in Zimbabwe is what inspired her to start Passion to Seed Gardening and thus, grow natural and nutritious food for communities in need. 

These are just a few examples of the importance of storytelling in helping us all come together for the sake of our planet and our people. Are you ready to share your climate story? Sign the petition to “Tell Congress: We Need A Strong Climate-Friendly Farm Bill NOW!” Then become a CCAN Action Member and find your local team.

 

 

Jasmine Perez (she/her) is a student at The University of Vermont (UVM) where she majors in Environmental Studies and Political Science. Her work is centered around the intersection between the environment, and policy-making in hopes to achieve healthy, just, and thriving communities amidst an ever-changing climate.

Will Biden finally declare a climate emergency? Here’s why he should.

Can you believe it? After years of public pressure, reports say the Biden Administration is considering declaring a climate emergency.

But what does that mean, and why is it so important? 

The Biden Administration has the power to declare a climate emergency under the National Emergencies Act. If they did, it would be HUGE. Declaring a climate emergency would carry immense weight, enabling a range of measures to be implemented quickly. It would give the White House the ability to: 

  • Reinstate the crude oil export ban
  • Deny permits for any new fossil fuel projects or drilling
  • Mandate a phase out of fossil fuel production on federal lands and waters. 
  • Redirect disaster relief funds toward distributed renewable energy construction in frontline communities
  • Marshal companies to fast-track renewable transportation and clean power generation, all while creating millions of high-quality union jobs. 

In short: a climate emergency declaration is not merely symbolic; it is a crucial step towards catalyzing the transformative change needed to address the climate crisis. And with fossil fuel companies trying to build new infrastructure left and right, a climate emergency declaration would be an important tool to stop the madness and build a sustainable future instead. 

We’ve been asking the President to take this step for years, and it’s needed now more than ever. We’ve just faced ten straight months of global heat records and it appears there’s more to come. The United Nations’ climate chief issued a red-alert warning on climate, after record heat and ice melt in 2023. Here in the United States, climate disasters are increasing in frequency and intensity, and the forecast is for another sweltering summer.

Extreme weather events, exacerbated by climate change, have cost the U.S. more than $1 trillion in recent years–globally it is $16 million per hour. Human health is being directly impacted, and inequity is being furthered in the U.S. and globally. Food supplies are directly impacted and over 1 billion people could be displaced in the coming years.

If that’s not an emergency, I don’t know what is. 

Let’s make it official. We’re coordinating a nationwide petition with the goal of sending at least 100,000 names to the White House demanding: Declare a climate emergency now!

Let me be clear. So far, President Biden has been the strongest U.S. president yet on climate change. The Inflation Reduction Act he championed provided more than $370 billion on clean energy over the next decade. The Environmental Protection Agency under his supervision has moved forward on several key rules that will reduce climate pollution from cars, power plants, and more. 

But there’s much more to be done and we’re running short on time to do it. 

This is the climate crisis, and this is an emergency. Tell President Biden: This is not a drill. Declare a climate emergency now! 

Add your name to the petition today. 


Add your name to the nationwide petition