For decades, the science of climate change and its effects have been well understood. Now, after years of unmitigated risks and insufficient action to protect the planet, the negative effects of climate change have begun to impact a wide range of areas. These include harm to defense readiness, increased frequency of natural disasters, ecological damage, community displacements, and worsened global economic output. Without policy adaptations that meet the challenges presented by climate change, these adverse effects will only worsen.

The nations that lead a green economy transition will be best positioned to serve as global leaders for the rest of the 21st century. By advancing bipartisan legislation emphasizing the benefits of clean energy investments, America can maintain economic competitiveness while supporting businesses, clean air and water, and fair labor standards here at home.

In advancing solutions to the ever-present risks brought about by climate change, legislators must adopt forward-looking, market-based approaches that can occupy a bipartisan policy space. Successful policy on climate must not be punitive in nature, but rather encourage an achievable global transition towards sustainable, independent energy and carbon neutrality. In that same respect, climate policy must also enable action equivalent to the scale of the crisis at hand.

Humanity Forward communicates research, policy, and constituent stories to members of Congress in order to support high-impact legislation. Effective policy will ensure economic, environmental, and diplomatic shifts on climate in the 21st century will include the United States serving in a strengthened leadership capacity.