The Jeff Davis County Democratic Party believes that we owe future generations a clean and healthy planet. We believe we should cherish our environment, and we are committed to preserving, protecting, and defending it. 

​

Climate change is real; and it threatens all that we value, from the health of our loved ones to the strength of our economy to the safety and security of Texans and all humankind. 

​

The Texas State Climate Summary 2022, prepared by NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, offers some disturbing prognostications for Texas' climate future -- historically unprecedented warming, more extreme precipitation events, and increased intensity of droughts, hurricane rainfall rates, and storm surge height.

​

A 2022 article in the Texas Tribune, Seven ways climate change is already hitting Texans, discusses similar disturbing effects of climate change, and also focuses on other consequences such as water shortages, risk of illnesses, and increased migration into Texas by those fleeing even more intense climate impacts elsewhere.

​

As a world leader in energy technology and innovation in the past century, Texas must now become the world leader in clean energy and environmental consciousness. Future generations demand this of us, and we must deliver. 

​

Tackling the Climate Crisis

​

In the last two years, the Biden administration and a Democratic congress have restored U.S. climate leadership on the world stage, by rejoining the Paris Agreement and creating the first-ever National Climate Task Force. The administration has taken decisive steps to reduce emissions and achieve energy security, by mobilizing the leadership of state and local governments.

 

Some examples of accomplishments so far:

 

• The United States set records for clean energy deployment in 2021, bringing enough new solar and wind projects online to power 10 million homes and tripling utility-scale battery storage capacity.

​

• Since President Biden took office, the two-millionth electric vehicle hit the road, companies announced investments of over $100 billion dollars in American EV manufacturing, and the rate of public EV charger installation nearly doubled.

​​

• Major climate “firsts” included the Administration’s approval of the first commercial-scale offshore wind project in federal waters, the first commercial flight powered by 100% sustainable aviation fuel flying from Chicago to DC, and U.S. steel and cement companies committing for the first time to reach net-zero emissions no later than 2050.

 

• Clean energy is by far the biggest job creator in America’s energy sector, with over 3 million Americans employed in clean energy jobs during 2021 earning wages 25% over the national median.

​​

• On the international stage, President Biden worked with E.U. counterparts to rally more than 100 countries to join the Global Methane Pledge, a new partnership to reduce super-polluting methane emissions 30% from 2020 levels by 2030.

​​

The Inflation Reduction Act

​

Passed in August 2022, the Inflation Reduction Act is the most significant legislation in U.S. history to tackle the climate crisis and strengthen American energy security. It will lower energy costs for households, saving families hundreds of dollars per year on energy bills; create millions of good-paying jobs for American workers through manufacturing of solar panels, wind turbines, and electric vehicles; and deliver a healthy future for our children and grandchildren by cutting pollution and advancing environmental justice. The savings, jobs, and other benefits provided by this legislation will reach communities across the country.

​

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law

​

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provides historic resources for upgrading the power grid, improving public transit and investing in zero-emission transit and school buses, installing a nationwide EV charging network, cleaning up legacy pollution, replacing lead pipes and delivering clean water. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will also save taxpayer money, and help communities safeguard against extreme weather events, catastrophic wildfires, and other climate-related disasters—which last year caused more than $150 billion in damages from the biggest 20 weather and climate disasters alone.

​

This decade is decisive for the world to confront climate change and avoid the worst, possibly even irreversible impacts of this crisis.