WHEREAS:
The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) of 2022 directed historic levels of funding towards reducing the impact of climate change on our homes, communities and workplaces by funding climate-resilient infrastructure, tax credits for renewable energy, incentives for low- and no-emission vehicles, incentives for household improvements and consumer credits designed to assist working families with rising energy costs and the transition to a greener economy; and
WHEREAS:
The Trump administration has attacked those federal programs, policy and personnel tasked with identifying, tracking and mitigating the impacts of climate change, including the reversal of the 2009 Endangerment Finding which established the legal basis for regulating greenhouse gas emissions under the Clean Air Act, through executive orders and widespread terminations, re-organizations, policy reversals and censorship of terms such as “climate change” and “emissions” in federal communications; and
WHEREAS:
The 119th Congress, hand in glove with the Trump administration, has eliminated federal funding and support for many programs intended to fight the impacts of climate change through the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), including tax incentives for the production and distribution of clean power, tax credits for vehicle electrification and clean refueling infrastructure, residential and consumer clean energy credits, and air quality improvement programs that prioritized low-income and disadvantaged communities that bear the high cost of adverse impacts from industry and pollution; and
WHEREAS:
OBBBA also cut funding for programs that directly benefited AFSCME members, including the Clean Heavy-Duty Vehicle program that provided grants and rebates to local governments to transition heavy vehicles used in public transit, solid waste collection and other public works functions to low- and no-emission alternatives; and
WHEREAS:
These cuts to climate change funding and programs will adversely impact AFSCME members’ work and communities by shifting the cost of the green transition to state and local governments and endangering our health and well-being.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:
AFSCME will support efforts to rebuild the capacity of the federal government to identify, track and mitigate the impacts of climate change, and reestablish the policy priorities and mission of long-standing frameworks such as the Justice40 Initiative; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:
AFSCME will advocate for an immediate reversal of Trump administration executive orders targeting climate and environmental justice, and restoration of the Endangerment Finding under a new administration; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:
AFSCME will work to restore IRA funds, expand federal assistance to state and local governments for the transition to a clean economy, and prioritize those programs with the most direct impact on our members’ workplaces and communities; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:
That AFSCME supports a just transition for workers and communities affected by economic changes related to climate policy, including job guarantees, retraining opportunities, wage protections and the protection of pensions and benefits; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:
AFSCME International will encourage and support AFSCME affiliates to create their own council or local based climate and environmental committees in order to create pathways to union leadership for members who work in or care about climate and environmental issues; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:
A representative from each climate or environmental committee be invited to participate on the semi-annual International Union video conference calls; and
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED:
AFSCME will support federal efforts to protect workers from adverse impacts of climate change, including vigorous enforcement of existing worker safety standards and the expansion of federal standards, such as a robust workplace heat standard that accounts for rising global temperatures.
SUBMITTED BY:
Ginet Hayes, President and Delegate
Jojo Kawana, Secretary and Delegate
Hawaii Government Employees Association (HGEA)/AFSCME Local 152
Hawaii
Brydan Summers, President and Delegate
Cynthia Vasquez, Recording Secretary and Delegate
AFSCME Local 1624
Texas
Jackie Tate, President and Delegate
Hilary Zust, Secretary and Delegate
AFSCME Local 88, Council 75
Oregon