By stalling climate action, filibuster imperils us all
A strong majority of American adults believe we need to act on climate change. Roughly twothirds believe that the federal government is doing too little to reduce its effects and that stricter environmental regulations are worth the costs, according to the Pew Research Center. Six in ten said global climate change is a major threat to the country, with slightly over half saying it should be a top priority of the president and Congress.
President Joe Biden is trying to make it so, but partisanship is blocking action. The political gap is wide, with 82 percent of Democrats believing global warming effects have already begun, compared with 29 percent of Republicans, according to a Gallup poll.
Scientists say we have precious little time left to launch major efforts if we want to avoid making much of this Earth uninhabitable. Temperature, fire, storm and drought records are broken annually, with ominous “tipping points” approaching or passing. We know what needs to be done to ward off the worst, yet nowhere near enough is being accomplished and there is a widespread lack of a sense of urgency. We need to act now.
Fossil fuel interests have been successful in postponing action for years, using dark money to manufacture doubt and purchase political delay. Now is the critical moment in time. Avoiding catastrophe will require individual and group efforts, meaningful action at the local and state governmental levels, and most of all a major national mobilization.
The spotlight is now on Washington and our only democratic institutions with the clout to make the critical investments and regulatory changes needed.
The times require the leadership Biden is trying to provide, yet he is hamstrung by the minority party using the filibuster to prevent any progress. Republicans are attempting to run out the clock until the 2022 elections.
Our last best chance to begin the bold action required may hinge on enactment of the American Jobs Plan, with its major infrastructure and climate actions, climate jobs, and climate justice provisions. Senate filibuster rules should not be allowed to further dilute our democracy and thwart the will of the electorate on this grave danger. The need to quickly meet the existential threat of climate change may require reforming our undemocratic procedural rules to escape the current paralysis. We should not hesitate to do so. Our future depends on it.