CHICAGO (August 5, 2022) – The Senate will soon vote on the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, the largest investment to tackle climate change in our nation’s history. Adam Forrer, Policy Director of Climate for Audubon Great Lakes released the following statement on the benefits this historic legislation will provide to wildlife and people across the Great Lakes region, and is available for public comment.
“This federal climate legislation could not come sooner for the Great Lakes region and our nation. Climate change isn’t on the horizon, it’s here, bringing with it flooding, more extreme hot days and threatening the places that birds and people rely on.
The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 is one of the most significant pieces of climate legislation to ever come before Congress, providing $369 billion to help the nation and local communities confront the climate crisis, while supporting Great Lakes restoration, clean drinking water and healthy communities.
The Great Lakes, both the waters and the surrounding land and wildlife habitats, serves as a resource for millions of birds and people but faces significant threats including rapid fluctuations of Great Lakes water levels and flooding. This legislation will help local communities across our region adapt to the impacts of climate change. It will support our region’s farmers and foresters in adopting natural climate solutions on working lands and it will invest in environmental justice efforts, focusing on local communities disproportionately affected by pollution and climate change.
North America has lost more than three billion birds over the past half-century, and two-thirds of North American bird species at risk of extinction due to our warming planet. This legislation contains billions to help restore high-quality habitat across our region, like wetlands, which can protect birds as changing temperatures and unpredictable weather patterns disrupt bird migrations.
It will also speed up the generation of renewable energy in our region. Investing in renewable energy sources is key to reducing greenhouse gas pollution to abate global temperature rise and protect birds and the places they need to survive.
While this bill is a historic opportunity to make significant progress to address climate change, the bill as it’s currently written contains some drawbacks, including the opening up of additional fossil fuel leasing opportunities and the need for further investments in environmental justice initiatives to fully protect vulnerable communities. Audubon Great Lakes will continue to work with policymakers and leaders across our region to achieve a cleaner, better future for us all.
Audubon Great Lakes urges Congress to take swift action to pass the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, to protect the birds, other wildlife and people that rely on the Great Lakes region.”
About Audubon Great Lakes
Audubon Great Lakes is a regional office of National Audubon Society. Learn more on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
The National Audubon Society protects birds and the places they need, today and tomorrow. Audubon works throughout the Americas using science, advocacy, education, and on-the-ground conservation. State programs, nature centers, chapters, and partners give Audubon an unparalleled wingspan that reaches millions of people each year to inform, inspire, and unite diverse communities in conservation action. A nonprofit conservation organization since 1905, Audubon believes in a world in which people and wildlife thrive.
TO REQUEST AN INTERVIEW: Emily Osborne, emily.osborne@audubon.org, 414-841-5273
