The Next Step

Three weeks ago the seminal American Clean Energy and Security Act (H.R. 2454) passed in the Energy and Commerce committee in the House. This is the first bill of it's nature to be in a position to make it through to be made into a law.

This bill may be up for vote on the House floor as soon as the week of the 22nd. The week after next. We need to make sure that it passes and that the International Adaptation Funding remains a part of the bill. Ask Congress to take advantage of this opportunity to stop harming the environment and start helping those already suffering from climate change through greater investment in adaptation.

Let's get this bill through congress! Lets stop harming and start helping.

The Passing of the ACES Act in Committee!

The American Clean Energy and Security Act (H.R. 2454) just passed through the House Energy and Commerce Committee!!!

To the left are some news articles that will explain what it is a bit more, but let me try to explain why this was and is so important to Oxfam. This Act is a sweeping resolution, the first energy and climate bill to be voted on by the U.S. House of Representatives. It aims to reduce Climate Changing Carbon emissions globally. Though, the percentage of reduction is not as much as environmentalists were hoping for, it is a wonderful first step. Another part of the legislation, a part that helps people affected by climate change immediately, is the allocation of 1% ($750 million per year) of the revenue raised to the International Climate Change Adaptation Program. The original (and needed) amount to go to this fund was 7%, though.

This program would finally put the U.S.A. back on track to being a part of the international environmental community. The funds from this program would go to helping developing communities adapt to changes in their climates. These are changes that we, in America, are so far buffered against.

We at Oxfam Action Corps Columbus would like to thank Representatives Betty Sutton and Zack Space. They are the two Ohioans who were in the position to either help or hinder this monumental piece of legislation and they both voted "yes"! Now, if they could only persuade some other Ohioan congress members to do the same when this goes to the Agriculture and Ways and Means Committees.......

Columbus Oxfam Action Corps

The Oxfam Action Corps is a group of dedicated volunteers in more than a dozen US cities who campaign with Oxfam America to fight poverty. Our current campaign focuses on climate change and its effects on the world’s poorest communities. Learn more about the Oxfam Action Corps and find links to our local blog and email at www.oxfamactioncorps.org <http://www.oxfamactioncorps.org/>

More info will be posted soon!