The climate crisis isn't coming; its here. Communities across the country are seeing an increasing number of severe storms that upend countless lives, uproot communities, and cost taxpayers billions of dollars each year. Most recently, rapid flooding in central Texas led to the tragic loss of more than one-hundred lives, including dozens of children at summer camp. These disasters are becoming more intense, sudden, and frequent in direct response to our negative impact on the climate. If we proactively address the root cause of these climate-exacerbated storms, we'll promote healthy, sustainable, and resilient communities. Urge Congress to pass the Polluters Pay Climate Fund Act (S.25/H.R. 1135) in order to reduce emissions, protect our communities, and raise funds to tackle climate change.
We must take bold, collective action in order to protect our communities from climate-exacerbated disasters. Introduced by Senator Chris Van Hollen (MD) and Rep. Jerry Nadler (NY-12) , the Polluters Pay Climate Fund Act would require the biggest corporate polluters to pay their fair share for the consequences of their climate-changing emissions, introducing incentives to transition towards a clean-energy economy. The bill aims to raise $1 trillion in revenue to be reinvested in programs that help mitigate our climate impacts, including improving disaster resiliency and recovery, fortifying our energy grid, making our food systems more sustainable, promoting conservation, improving public health, and protecting frontline communities who face disproportionate risks.
Every individual, and indeed every business, has a responsibility to do their part to combat the climate crisis. For the first time, we must begin to hold the biggest drivers of climate change accountable for the existential threats it presents. Together, we'll create safer communities, a resilient economy, and a sustainable planet for the generations to come. Urge Congress to support the Polluters Pay Climate Fund Act (S.25, H.R. 1135), today.
Jewish Values
As Reform Jews, we carry a specific ethical obligation to take care of each other and the world that sustains us. In the Garden of Eden, God tells Adam and Eve, “Take care not to spoil or destroy My world, for if you do, there will be no one to repair it after you” (Midrash Ecclesiastes Rabbah 7:13). This text speaks to the urgency of this moment, when swift action can save countless lives from the devastation caused by climate change. Our sacred texts are also clear about the necessity to redress harm through financial restitution. Our sages understood that victims of wrongdoing were helped made whole through payments for damages, and that moral reevaluation and repentance must accompany these financial obligations (Mishnah Torah, Hilchot Teshuvah 1:1). In light of these Jewish imperatives, we must work to ensure climate-change accountability and protect vulnerable communities nationwide.
For More Information
For more information, visit the RAC's page on the environment or contact Eisendrath Legislative Assistant Daniel Block.
By submitting this form, you are agreeing to receive emails from the RAC and URJ. You can manage your preferences at any time.
Most elected officials with online contact forms require a prefix to submit a message, so this requirement is part of the VoterVoice platform. For most offices, you may submit any prefix or title up to 30 characters (including gendered, professional, religious, and non-binary prefixes), but a small number of offices only accept certain prefixes. Learn more about this requirement, which is not controlled by the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism.
A small number of Capitol Hill offices impose a strict character limit for incoming constituent emails. If you receive an error notification that your message is too long or cannot be sent, please manually shorten the message. This character limit is not controlled by the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism or the VoterVoice platform.