Climate watch: What the election results mean for climate policy
The Inflation Reduction Act, passed in 2022, is the single-most effective, far-reaching piece of climate legislation ever enacted by the U.S. Congress. But it is now under threat.
This act has enabled 3.4 million Americans to save $8.4 billion on rooftop solar panels, solar water heaters, home batteries, heat pumps and other energy-saving devices, according to figures released in summer by the U.S. Treasury. Americans also use the IRA tax credits to pay for energy-saving insulation, window sealing and more.
In 2023, Pennsylvania citizens claimed $267.9 million in energy tax credits enabled by this far-sighted legislation.
So, what does the new political landscape mean for this law and for climate policy generally?
In a statement, Citizens’ Climate Lobby says, “We’ve passed policies that will drive down carbon pollution and accelerate the transition to clean energy across the U.S. But now, that progress is at risk. During the campaign, president-elect Donald Trump pledged to repeal the Inflation Reduction Act — a critical climate win that CCL lobbied hard to secure. We will need to protect the progress we’ve made.
“But remember: Climate work has always been a long-term commitment. No single election outcome will solve the issue, and no single election outcome will dissolve our commitment to this work.
“With that in mind, we still see opportunities for climate action. Bipartisan climate action has happened under Republican administrations and unified Republican control before, and it will happen again. Our long history of working respectfully across the aisle means we have earned a seat at the table with lawmakers in both parties. We are well positioned to make progress on evidence-based climate solutions, even now.”
One of the reasons why CCL’s views and actions carry weight with lawmakers is the organization’s wide reach. Representatives and senators alike know that when they hear from CCL, they are hearing from their own constituents. In the United States there are 523 chapters and every Congressional District has at least one. There are two chapters in Pennsylvania’s 15th Congressional District represented by Republican Glenn Thompson: the State College chapter and the Susquehanna Valley chapter in Selinsgrove, with whom we sometimes partner.
Why does CCL have such reach? Well, it costs nothing to join. There are no dues. The organization is far more interested in a commitment of time and energy from its members. All chapters focus on five levers of political will. They 1) lobby Congress and train members how to do that, 2) do media relations, through social media, letters to the editor and op-ed articles, 3) do grassroots outreach by educating the public on climate solutions and how to engage with their government, 4) do grass tops engagement by educating, building partnerships with and gaining the support of community leaders, and 5) do chapter and volunteer development, improving our skills as climate advocates.
There are robust educational opportunities provided by CCL’s small but efficient national staff. CCL, for example, is planning a Fall Virtual Conference Dec. 6-7, to give anyone interested an in-depth look at what Congress is expected to consider about climate change both at the end of this lame-duck session and in the new year.
Each session of Congress offers challenges and opportunities. The immediate challenge for 2025 will be to protect the progress made through the Inflation Reduction Act. But no matter which party holds control, CCL’s approach remains the same.