OUR GOALS
CAPA works with local activists and its partners to petition lawmakers both at the local, state and national level to address smarter domestic policy regarding CO2 emissions, energy and other means of climate change.
Locally we are cosponsors for Solar for Faith Communities and encouraging places of faith to install solar panels.
In the State we support the Clean Energy Jobs Act that calls for a transition to 100% renewable energy by 2050. Read our full plan for Illinois.
Nationally we advocate for the Green New Deal, calling for an economic transformation that includes supporting and being in solidarity with social and environmental justice movements that are affected by a perpetual growth mentality of the fossil fuel industry.
“It is estimated by 2050 there will be between 200 million and 1 billion migrants due to the effects of climate change”
Climate Update: The opposition we face and recommendations on The Path Forward
Last year the growing impacts of climate change hit the United States hard. Wildfires scorched California and storms pounded the East Coast. The South saw record heat and the Midwest unprecedented flooding.
2019 was the second warmest year on record and the last five years were the warmest five years ever recorded.
2020 is starting off even worse particular for Australia. Australians are experiencing a humanitarian catastrophic. Wild fires have already scorched nineteen million acres, killed over one billion of their native animals, destroyed over 5,000 homes and killed 30 people.
This should be the moment when governments finally begin urgent efforts to stave off the climate crisis. Unfortunately, that is not the rational response we are getting. In fact, the Australian anti-environmental government seems utterly unmoved as environmental nightmares become reality.
In the United States we are seeing a similar reality. Instead of President Trump declaring a global climate emergency and calling on Congress to jointly work together to establish an effective national climate strategy to address this crisis, he has continued his destructive actions to weaken our environment regulations. In the past 90 days there are three more shameful and harmful examples of these actions. Read the full report here and the actions proposed.
The impact of climate change on the future prosperity of the world hinges on whether or not we face the reality now or decide to arrogantly push forward with coal, oil, gas and other means of polluting the planet. The United States and the fossil fuel industry disproportionately contributes to greenhouse gas emissions and compromises the livelihoods and environment across the globe.
Climate change is directly tied to peace. If unabated, it will lead increasingly to severe food and water shortages, which worsen or cause territorial conflict. It will also lead to coastal flooding, which means mass migrations and increased conflicts as nations grapple with an influx of climate refugees, who currently are not protected under any international law. According to the International Organization for Migration it is estimated by 2050 there will be between 200 million and 1 billion migrants due to the effects of climate change.
As refugees of climate change pour into neighboring lands and countries, they will put great stress on the social and economic systems of their new homes causing conflict with the local population. Countries who may think they are immune to climate refugees in other parts of the world will come under increasing pressure to help support the burden of dealing with people affected by global warming. For instance, the UN Convention to Combat Desertification estimates 30% of population will lack access to water by 2030.
“30% of world population will not have access to water by the year 2030”
With the negative effects of climate change on political and economic stability around the world, it is imperative that countries and international bodies seek to both address and prepare for the future. The current administration, with the complicity of Congress, has placed climate change as a low priority. Meanwhile, almost every single country is pushing ahead to develop an economy geared towards the future where climate change is real. Without preparation we risk falling behind both neighbors, partners and competitors. This is why CAPA is taking action to convince lawmakers that climate change must be addressed head on.