SierraClubRecommendationstotheDemocraticPartyPlatform

WithhistoricleadershipfromPresidentObama,theworldreachedauniversalclimateaccordin
Paris,butthethreatsofglobaltemperaturerisestillloomandwemustaccelerateouraction
hereathome.Now,morethanever,itisessentialfortheDemocraticpartytoincorporatethe
strongestpossibleclimateandcleanenergypoliciesintoitsplatform.

TheSierraClub,onbehalfofour2.4millionmembersandsupporters,advocates
inclusionintotheplatformof
:
acommitment
topowerAmericawith100%clean,renewable
energysourceslikesolarandwind
arecognition
oftheneedtokeepfossilfuelsintheground
andundertheocean,especiallyonourpubliclands
apledge
tohaltthepolluterfriendly
TransPacificPartnership,giventhatitwouldundermineclimateandenvironmentalprotection,
andtobuildanewmodeloftradethatsupportsworkers,communities,andourenvironment.
IncludingtheseandotherprovisionsintheDemocraticPartysplatformwillmakeitclearthatthe
Partyisfullypreparedtotackletheclimatecrisisheadon,whilealsoensuringthatAmerica
continuestostandstrongforcleanair,cleanwater,ourpubliclands,andenvironmentaljustice.
Transitionto100%CleanEnergy
Americamusttransitionourenergy
usefullyawayfromthedirtyanddangerousfuelsofthepast
towardaneconomypoweredby100%clean,renewablesourceslikewind,solarand
geothermal.
Aspartofthispath,wemustdramaticallydecreasetheamountofenergywewaste
throughenergyefficiency.Ourtransitioningto100%cleanenergywillgrowoureconomy,create
goodpayingjobsandhelpmakeAmericatheworldscleanenergysuperpower.

Todothis,Americamustguaranteethatrenewableenergytaxincentives,likethoseforoffshore
wind,arepermanentlyextended.Theseincentiveshavealonghistoryofhelpingensurerobust
growthintherenewableenergysectorwhilecreatinghundredsofthousandsofjobs.Second,
wemustensurethatourgridinfrastructure,thebackboneofourelectricitymarket,isasefficient
andmodernaspossible.
Modernizationwillensurethatthegridiscapableofaccommodatinga
diversearrayoftechnologies.Wemustalsomakeourbuildings,whichareresponsiblefor40
percentofourenergyuse,asefficient,smart,andsustainableaspossible.Thisworkmust
include
establishinganationalgoaldoublingefficiencyofexistingbuildingsfrom2015levelsby
January1,2030,and
requiringallgovernmentbuildingstobezeronetenergyusers.

Finally,itsimportanttopursuepoliciesthatincludemarketbaseddisincentivestoall
greenhousegaspollution.Thesepoliciesshouldincreaseequitybyhelpinglowtomoderate
incomefamiliesaccessrenewableenergyandenergyefficiency.Thesefamiliesspendmoreof
theirincomeonenergythananyother,andhavethemosttogainfromlowerenergybills.

KeepFossilFuelsintheGround
TheUnitedStatesmustleadtheworldindemonstratingthatazerocarbonfuturewhichlimits
temperatureriseto1.5degreesCelsiusmeanskeepingdirtyfossilfuelsintheground.Puttinga

halttonewextractionofisneededtotilttheglobalscaletowardscleanenergyandawayfrom
fossilfuels.ItsclearAmericamustbeginphasingoutcoalandfrackingasfastaspossible,and
replacingallfossilfuelswithcleanenergylikewindandsolar.
Trueclimateleadershipmeans
leavingasignificantportionofremainingfossilfuelreservesintheground
.

Specifically,Americamust:

Endfossilfuelextractionfromournationspubliclandsandwaters
ImplementandstrengthenCleanAirActandCleanWaterActstandardsforthepower,
oilandgassectors,includingstrongsafeguardsforallaspectsofhydraulicfracturing
andallsourcesofmethanepollution
Rejectanynewpermitsfortarsandsprojectsandinfrastructure
Ensureallagencies,includingFERC,DOE,andDOI,consistentlyandfullyweighthe
climateimpactsofnewinfrastructureprojectsandrejectthosethatwouldharmour
climate,includinggaspipelinesandgasexportterminals
Instituteamoratoriumonthetransportofoilbyrail,pendingfullimplementationofoil
spillresponseplanregulationsandstrengthenedsafetyregulations
Endthedestructivepracticeofmountaintopremovalmining
TheUnitedStatesgovernmentandinternationalfinancialinstitutions(IFIs)must
completelyphaseouttheirfinancialsupportforfossilfuelprojectsby2020while
increasingtheirinvestmentintransformationalrenewableenergyandenergyefficiency
projects,especiallytoexpandenergyaccessforthepoor.

BuildaNewTradeFrameworkthatSupportsourEnvironmentandClimateAction
Ouroutdatedtradepolicymodelunderminesratherthansupportstheimperativeofprotecting
ourenvironmentandourclimate.Afirststeptowardbuildinganewmodeloftradethatsupports
workers,communities,andourenvironmentistostoptheTransPacificPartnership.TheTPPis
fundamentallyflawed.

TheTPPwouldempowerthousandsofcorporations,includingmajorpolluters,tochallengeour
climateandenvironmentalprotectionsinprivate,unaccountabletribunals.TransCanada
recentlydemonstratedthisthreatbyannouncingitwillusevirtuallyidenticalrulesunderNAFTA
tosuetheU.S.governmentfor$15billionoverPresidentObamasrejectionoftheKeystoneXL
pipeline.ByempoweringmanymorefossilfuelcorporationstofollowTransCanadasexample
andaskprivatetribunalstoordermillionsorbillionsofdollarsascompensationforsafeguards,
theTPPwouldchilltheenactmentoffrackingbans,offshoredrillingrestrictions,andother
climateandenvironmentalprotections.

TheTPPalsowouldincreaseclimateemissionsbyfacilitatingincreasedfossilfuelexports,
shiftingmanufacturingtocountrieswithcarbonintensiveproduction,increasingshipping,and
escalatingtropicaldeforestation.

Inaddition,theTPPfallsshortinprotectingourair,water,andwildlife.Itsconservation
provisionsaregenerallyweakandsubjecttoanenforcementmechanismthathasconsistently
failedtocurbenvironmentalabuses.Infact,theTPPwouldencouragegreatertradeinproducts
likesharkfinsandelephantivorythatthreatenendangeredspecies.

Finally,wemustestablishanewtradepolicyframeworkthatreducescarbonpollutionand
protectsenvironmentalandclimatepolicies.Thisrequiresafundamentalrethinkofcurrenttrade
policy,notmarginalchanges.Thisnewtradeframeworkshouldbedesignedthroughaprocess
thatistransparent,broadinscope,andparticipatory,withampleparticipationfrom
environmentalexperts.

KeepLeadingtheWorldonStrongInternationalClimateAction
TheUnitedStatesshouldcontinuetoleadtheworldtowardatransitionto100%cleanenergy.
Collectively,theworldmustmeettheParisAgreementsgoalsofholdingtemperaturerisewell
below2Candpursuingeffortskeepitbelow1.5C.Todosowemustpeakglobalemissionsas
soonaspossible,whilecompletelyeliminatingnetgreenhousegasemissionsbymidcentury
[2050].TheUnitedStatesshouldcontinuetoshapeinternationalclimatediplomacyeffortsby
pushingforaggressiveclimateaction,assistingothercountriesinmeetingtheirclimatetargets,
pursuingbilateralclimateagreements,andensuringthatothercountrieshonortheir
commitments.

GreenTransportation
TheUnitedStatesmustcompletelytransformourtransportationsectorifwearetomeetour
longtermgoalsindeed,transportationaccountsfornearlyonethirdoftotalUSgreenhousegas
emissions.Americansmustbeabletomovemuchmorecleanlyandaffordably.Thismeans
investmentinprogramsandpoliciestoachieveafulltransitiontopluginelectricandother
zeroemissioncars,trucks,andbusesarobustnationwidepublictransitandhighspeedrail
systemandsmartprogramstoensurethatafargreatershareofoveralltripsaretakenbyvia
safemodesofbiking,walking,andcarsharing.

ProtectourPublicLands,WatersandWildlife
EveryAmericanshouldhavethesameopportunitiestoenjoyandexploreournationsrich
naturalheritageofpubliclands,watersandwildlife.Ourpubliclandsencompassournations
mostspecialplaces,supportindividualandcommunityhealthandfosteragrowingoutdoor
recreationeconomythatcreatesjobsandgeneratesbillionsofdollarsforcommunitiesall
acrossthecountry.

Yettoday,thesesharedAmericantreasuresofparks,shorelines,rivers,forestsandfree
rangingwildlifearebeingtargetedbythosewhowouldselloffournaturalheritageforaquick
profitoropentheseareasforoilandgasdrillingorcoalmining.Wemustensurelibertyand
justiceforallbyprotectingourpubliclandsandnearbynature,ensuringthateveryAmerican
candrinkcleanwater,breathefreshair,andexploreandenjoyourwildlifeandwildplaces.

SecureEconomicJusticeandGoodJobsasweMoveto100%CleanEnergy
Clean,
renewableenergyisnowcostcompetitivewithfossilfuels
priceshavedroppedsomuch
thatinmanyplacesit'salreadycheaperthancoal.

Theinvestmentsinenergyefficiency,clean
energy,
climateresilientinfrastructure,amodernized,smartpowergrid,
andothermeasures
neededtomitigateclimatedisruptionwillproducesignificantadditionalbenefitsthroughoutthe
U.S.economy,makingthecleanenergyeconomyamajornewengineofU.S.jobcreation.
ReputableeconomistshaveconcludedthattheinvestmentsnecessaryfortheU.S.tomakeits
minimumcontributiontoglobalemissionsreductionswillcreatemillionsofnewjobs.

However,
whetherthesejobsaregoodjobsdependson
how
wetransitiontocleanenergy.
The
cleanenergyeconomydoesnotstandoutsideofbroaderpoliticalandeconomictrends.Inorder
forpeopletosupportacleanenergytransitionthatisambitiousenoughtostoptheworst
consequencesoftheclimatecrisis,theymusthaveconfidencethatacleanenergyeconomyis
oneinwhichtheywillbeeconomicallysecure.Marketforcesalonewillnotcreateafairandjust
cleanenergyeconomy.Forthattohappen,wemustreversethedestructiveeconomicpolicies
ofatleastthepast35years.

Thepeoplewhoaremosteconomicallyvulnerablearethesamepeoplewhoarealready
sufferingthemostfromclimatedisruption.Onitsown,themarketwontmakesurecleanenergy
jobsaregoodjobs,orthattheygo
tothe
peoplewhodesperatelyneedthem,especiallypeople
fromeconomicallyandenvironmentallydevastatedcommunities.

So,as
werapidlytransitiontocleanenergy,wemustalsofosterhealthierandmorejust
communitiesbyhelpingtoensurecleanenergyjobsaregoodjobs.Wemustensurerobust
publicinvestmentsaremadetomeettheneedsofworkers
andcommunitieswhoselivelihoods
areaffectedbythetransitiontocleanenergy,includinglowincomecommunitiesand
communitiesofcolor,whoarehithardestbyclimatedisruption.

IncreaseSupportforthePoorestCountriestoRespondtotheChallengesofClimate
Change
Manyoftheworldspoorestandmostvulnerablecountrieslacktheresourcesandtechnologyto
addresstheprofoundconsequencestheyfacefromclimatechange.Ourmilitaryleadershave
warnedusthatclimatechangewillleadtodeclininghumanwelfareandincreasingpolitical
instability,toresourceconflictandrefugeeflows.Itisthereforeinthenationalsecurityand
economicinterestsoftheUnitedStatestohelpothernationsaddressthesechallengesinways
thatpromotepovertyalleviationandhumandevelopment.

TheUnitedStatesshouldrampupitsclimaterelatedsupportforpoorandvulnerablecountries,
andensurethatexistingfinanceflowsareconsistentwithlowgreenhousegasemissionsand
climateresilientdevelopment.

StandupforWomen'sRightsAroundtheGlobe

Asweworktoadvanceuniversalvaluesandhumandignity,expandingprotectionsand
opportunitiesforwomenandgirlsaroundtheworldiscritical.Ensuringfullequalityand
providingwomenandgirlstheopportunitytolearn,earnalivablewage,andparticipateinpublic
decisionmakingisessentialtoreduceviolence,combatclimatechange,andstrengthen
democracy.

Byaddressingunderlyingsocioeconomicproblems,includingwomen'saccesstofinancial
services,comprehensivehealthcare,waterandsanitation,education,andfoodsecurity,
womenwillbebetterabletorespondtoincreasedclimatedisruptionincludingdroughtand
extremeweather.

Supportforfamilyplanningprogramsaroundtheglobewillhelpwomencarefortheirfamilies,
supporttheircommunities,theirenvironment,andleadtheircountriestobehealthierandmore
productive.WemustcommittofulfillingtheUnitedStatesfullsupportforlifesavingreproductive
healthandrightsinternationally.Andwemustsecureapermanentrepealofthe"globalgag
rule,"abanonfederalfundstoforeignfamilyplanningorganizationsthatprovidedinformation
about,counselingon,orofferedabortions.Liftingthegagruleiscriticaltoensuringthesefunds
areaccessibleforalllevelsofhealthpractitionersglobally.

EnsureEnvironmentalJustice
ComprehensiveEnvironmentalJusticemeansAmericamust:
ImplementandstrengthenCleanAirActandCleanWaterActstandardstoprotectpublic
health,and
prioritizetheprotectionoffrontlinecommunitiesdirectlyimpactedbywater
andairpollution.Thisincludesenforcingthesuiteoflawsrelatingtochildhoodlead
poisoning,includingthesafedrinkingwateract,superfund/rcra,andtheresidential
leadbasedpainthazardreductionact.
Focusenforcementwherethecumulativeimpactsofmultiplepollutionsourcesis
creatingserioushealthburdensinEJcommunities.

Allfederalrulemakingsshould
includeEJanalyses.
Focuscompliance(includingcompliancereviewsofthemanyrecipientsoffederal
fundsstateandlocalagenciesthatreceivefederalmoneyfromEPA)andenforcement
ofTitleVIoftheCivilRightsAct.
Investininfrastructurerenewal,especiallyinEJcommunities:almost2,000additional
watersystemsspanningall50stateswheretestinghasshownexcessivelevelsoflead
contaminationoverthepastfouryears(accordingtoUSATODAY).Suchinvestments
cancreategoodpayingunionscalejobs.

BuildamoreEquitableandRepresentativeDemocracy
Dirtyenergyisnotjustpollutingourairandwater.Ithaspollutedourdemocracyaswell.Coal,
oil,andgasspecialinterestsarecorruptingourgovernmentbytryingtobuyelections,selfishly
puttingcorporateprofitsabovetheinterestsofourcountry.Thefossilfuelindustryisspending
unprecedentedmoneytoinfluenceelectionsleveragingthismoneytodrownoutthevoicesof
everydayAmericans.Forexample,analysisbyOilChangeInternationalindicatestheenergy

industryreceives$59infederalsubsidiesforevery$1theyspendoncampaigncontributions
andlobbying.OverthelastfewyearstheAmericanpublichasvoicedtheirincreasingconcern
andfrustrationaboutthegrowinginfluencemoneyhasinpolitics.

Americanvaluesarerootedinprinciplesofjustice,fairness,andequality.Webelieveboth
natureandpeopledeservejusticeandfullprotectionunderthelaw.Webelieveinasocietythat
isfirstandforemostjust,fairandrationalonethatabhorsbrutalityandfavorsequality.
Whetherit'stheplanetitselforthepeoplewhoinhabitit,weholdtheidealsofrespectand
reverenceinthehighestregard.Forthesereasons,wesupportpoliciesthatnotonlypreserve
andprotecttheenvironmentbutpromoteracial,economic,socialandenvironmentaljustice.

WemustfullyrestoretheVotingRightsActandpoliciesthatallowcitizenseasierand
betteraccesstovoting
Wemustreducetheroleofbigmoneyinpolitics,andfavorsmalldonors
Senaterulesmustchangetoallowforupordownvotesonalladministrativeandjudicial
nominees
Allfederalcontractorsshouldberequiredtodisclosetheirfullpoliticalspending.