Climate Power in Response to Senator Manchin’s Statement about the Build Back Better Act’s Climate Investments

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

December 19, 2021

Contact: Jason Phelps, [email protected]

WASHINGTON, D.C. — In response to Senator Joe Manchin’s statement about the Build Back Better Act, Lori Lodes, Climate Power executive director, issued the following statement:

“This is our last, best chance to tackle the climate crisis. Our country, our economy and future generations cannot afford Congress to kick the can down the road any longer. Fierce thunderstorms and tornadoes in December, record breaking fire seasons, never ending droughts – it will only get worse if we fail to act. Not only will the Build Back Better Act lower costs for hard working families and combat inflation, it will create millions of good paying jobs and put our country on the path to reducing pollution at the speed scientists say is critical for today and for future generations.

Every community across the country, including in West Virginia, will see the tangible, real benefits of the Build Back Better Act’s investments. The future of our planet is on the line – the health, safety, and prosperity of our friends, families, and neighbors are all on the line. It’s time to come together and get this done. Failure is not an option.”

The Climate Crisis is Real and It’s Here.

Extreme weather affected nearly every community this year, high energy costs are stressing family budgets, pollution continues to choke the lungs of America’s most vulnerable people – especially Black, Brown and Indigenous communities – and fossil fuel CEO’s are cashing in as their industry stretches the environment to the brink. Every day that goes by, the climate crisis grows worse.

The consequences of climate inaction are real. The human and economic costs rise every single week the Build Back Better Act does not pass. Here is a snapshot of the average weekly costs of inaction:

10 people die on average in the U.S. from climate-related disasters.
167,307 people die worldwide because of pollution from burning fossil fuels.
$16.7 million is spent on healthcare costs because of pollution from burning fossil fuels.
2,942 Latino children experience asthma attacks because of pollution from burning fossil fuels.
30,769 hospital emergency room visits are caused by asthma.
$2 billion in damages is caused on average in the U.S. from climate-related disasters.
$20 million in U.S. crop insurance claims on average can be attributed to climate change.
194,660 acres are burned in the U.S. in wildfires.
$173 million in damage is caused on average in the U.S. from urban flooding.
413,462 people are displaced from their homes worldwide due to climate change.
3.8 billion tons of ice disappear from Antarctica.
624.6 million tons of CO2 are released into the atmosphere.
Oil companies make $4.46 billion in profits.
$9.3 billion is spent on gasoline in the U.S.

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