Following Election, Ceres Calls on Lawmakers To Advance Bipartisan Solutions To Grow U.S. Economy and Confront Climate Crisis
November 17, 2022 /3BL Media/ - Following the 2022 midterm elections, Ceres and its networks stand ready to build upon historic U.S. climate action and investments of the past year, as companies and investors remain committed to advancing bipartisan solutions that will keep the U.S. competitive and benefit communities and economies across the country.
“The last two years have brought monumental progress in the fight against the climate crisis with major gains in climate commitments among companies and investors as well as historic climate policy wins at the federal and state levels,” said Ceres Vice President of Government Relations Anne Kelly. “During a period that also saw the approval of significant climate, clean energy, and environmental justice initiatives at the state level, federal lawmakers joined together to pass the most ambitious climate legislation in U.S. history with the Inflation Reduction Act, as well as critical infrastructure and advanced science packages that were achieved on a bipartisan basis. With widespread support from companies and investors, these laws will together guide the future of U.S. climate and industrial policy, bringing secure reliable, affordable clean energy for communities across the country.”
Kelly added: “While we celebrate these successes, we know it will take more action to build a prosperous clean energy economy and meet the urgent need to reduce the climate pollution that threatens our economy and our communities. Ceres remains committed to achieving those goals by working with its networks of companies and investors to advocate to newly elected members of Congress, state legislators, and governors for bipartisan climate, clean energy, and environmental justice measures. Amid a tense geopolitical environment and a complex economic moment, we must continue to look for opportunities to work across the political aisle to collaborate on policies that benefit our economy and capital markets. It is in the interest of both parties to build the industries of the future, achieve energy security, cut energy costs, reduce the risk of climate catastrophes to supply chains and infrastructure, and ensure the health and wellbeing of the nation’s disadvantaged, rural, and energy communities in every state of the country.”
Ceres has worked with companies and investors for more than a decade to advance climate and clean energy policy at the federal and state level. The sustainability nonprofit was at the forefront of mobilizing corporate support for the Inflation Reduction Act, ultimately working with more than 2,900 companies that counted more than $5.1 trillion in annual revenue and more than 400 million global employees to advocate for its climate, clean energy, and environmental justice investments.
Since passage of the Inflation Reduction Act, some of the nation’s leading food and apparel companies have begun to champion a climate-smart Farm Bill, meeting with members of Congress on both sides of the aisle to share their priorities to modernize the U.S. agricultural system. Investors and companies also continue to advocate for smart executive actions and regulatory initiatives from the Biden administration, including the finalization of the SEC’s climate disclosure rule and implementation of the Inflation Reduction Act. And they continue to call for robust policies at the state level to support the transition to clean energy and transportation.
“States are once again in a position to build on their climate policy wins of the past decade, including adoption of strong standards and programs to guide the path to a cleaner transportation future and 100% clean electricity, especially in states like Michigan, Minnesota, and Maryland.” said Alli Gold Roberts, senior director of state policy at Ceres. “As state governments charter their own policies and work together on regional efforts, they must also be ready to harness the power of the Inflation Reduction Act and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, putting these federal resources to work to benefit their own residents, businesses, and economies.”
Roberts added: “Lawmakers and regulators at all levels of government should understand that the companies and investors taking climate action are not taking a political position. They are executing a business decision to benefit their stakeholders and beneficiaries by reducing the real financial risks they face from the effects of this crisis and capitalizing on the opportunities in the transition to a zero-emissions economy. Ceres is eager to work productively with investors and companies, as well as state and federal policymakers to build on the climate policy momentum of the last two years and support the measures that will grow our economy, strengthen our future, and accomplish our collective goals.”
About Ceres
Ceres is a nonprofit organization working with the most influential capital market leaders to solve the world’s greatest sustainability challenges. Through our powerful networks and global collaborations of investors, companies and nonprofits, we drive action and inspire equitable market-based and policy solutions throughout the economy to build a just and sustainable future. For more information, visit ceres.org and follow @CeresNews.
Media Contact: Helen Booth-Tobin
