WASHINGTON (June 17, 2021) — Yesterday, the Save Our Future Act was introduced in the U.S. Senate. This innovative legislative proposal addresses climate and local pollution in a unified manner through multi-pollutant pricing and community reinvestment, returning fee revenue to all Americans, supporting energy veterans, and providing resources to environmental justice communities, including for enforcement of air pollution limits. It is noteworthy that the bill has support from groups including the Utility Workers Union of America, the New York City Environmental Justice Alliance, New York Lawyers for the Public Interest, the American Sustainable Business Council, Citizens Climate Lobby, the Clean Air Task Force, The Nature Conservancy, the National Wildlife Federation, and the Environmental Defense Fund.

Following is a statement from Dan Lashof, Director of World Resources Institute, United States:

“The climate crisis and racial, economic and environmental injustice are inextricably linked. The Save Our Future Act places equity at the heart of robust climate action, including through a foundational focus on policy to address local criteria air pollutants by placing a fee on emitting them. These air pollutants disproportionately burden environmental justice communities. The bill will also reinvest revenues from the fee in communities most impacted by pollution and dependent on fossil fuels, while simultaneously pricing greenhouse gas emissions to address climate change.” 

“This proposal advances the conversation around climate action that is just, equitable and ambitious. We urge members of Congress to seize this opportunity to engage meaningfully on climate policy that reinvests in our communities, addresses criteria pollutants that most plague front line communities, and drives down greenhouse gas emissions.”