"Tell Your Legislator: Don't Water Down The Climate Roadmap Bill" -SIERRA CLUB

SUSTAINABLE WELLESLEY IS SHARING AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM THE SIERRA CLUB MA:
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We’re approaching the end of this legislative tug of war between House/Senate and Governor and we need your help.

On Sunday, February 7, Baker (to no one’s surprise) vetoed the bill AGAIN. In the second veto he scaled back a few of his earlier criticisms and instead proposed a series of amendments that would weaken and water down key aspects of the bill, specifically...

• The 2030 and 2040 emissions targets: S.9 calls for a 50% reduction in emissions by 2030 and a 75% reduction in emissions by 2040. Baker’s amendments would weaken these targets to 45% and 65% respectively.
• The sector emissions sublimits: S.9 establishes sector sublimits for different sectors of the economy (electric power, transportation, heating, and cooling, etc). Baker’s amendments would severely weaken the accountability power of these sublimits.
• The net zero stretch building code: S.9 requires the state quickly move to develop a “net zero energy building code” for new construction. Baker’s amendments would severely weaken this provision by removing the “net zero energy” definition, slow down the timeline for adoption, and make it easier for communities to opt-out.

The Governor also proposed many smaller edits to the bill, many small technical changes to the language. And on a positive note, he also proposed a couple minor changes that would slightly strengthen the existing environmental justice protections in the bill.

Tell Your Legislator: Don't Water Down The Climate Roadmap Bill!
The legislature now must choose one of three options to move forward and they have no timeline in which they are required to act:

1. Reject the Governor’s amendments and override his veto (requires ⅔ votes in both House and Senate).
2. Vote to adopt the Governor’s amendments as written.
3. Negotiation further and perhaps adopt some amendments, but not others… this path is the least clear, but perhaps the most likely.

Please email your legislator to ask them to reject any amendments that weaken the bill. The climate crisis requires urgent action and every day wasted is another missed opportunity to address carbon pollution and existing environmental injustices.

After you've sent your message, please also take a moment to call your legislator's office. You can use the following phone script: 
 
Hello, this is {ADD YOUR NAME HERE} calling from {ADD YOUR TOWN/CITY HERE}. I am calling today to thank you for your leadership on climate and environmental justice issues this past year. I am calling today to ask you to request that [House/Senate] leadership move urgently to reject any of the Governor’s amendments to the climate bill (S.9) that would weaken the legislation. It is critical that the legislature preserves the following parts as originally passed:

• The 2030 and 2040 emissions targets
• The sector emissions sublimits
• The net zero stretch building code

Climate science tells us we have only 9 years left to significantly address carbon emissions to escape the worst impacts of climate change. Please talk to your colleagues and ask them to bring the bill back for a floor vote as soon as possible with no amendments that weaken the bill. Thank you for all you do!
Thank you for your action!

Sincerely,

Jacob Stern
Deputy Director, Sierra Club Massachusetts Chapter