An Appeal From Dan Galpern, CPR Initiative Executive Director & General Counsel
December 27, 2021
Dear Friends,
This note – our first end-of-year appeal – includes one critical announcement. But first, a short review.
During 2021, with your critical help:
- The CPR Initiative Board of Directors was formed (see Donn Viviani’s note), our IRS non-profit tax-exempt status was secured, our new website, CPRclimate.org, was launched, and the Executive Director position was filled,
- Along with famed climate scientist Dr. James E. Hansen, we launched our first major initiative. It aims to make the big polluters pay by imposing a rising fee on oil, gas, and coal. Importantly, as we explained to the White House, the President can make this happen without new Congressional legislation, and so, without further delay.1 And if user fee revenues are rebated on a per capita basis, then lower and moderate-income households will be held harmless, on average, if fuel prices climb.
- As summer turned into fall, and with the help of colleagues across the nation, we took it to the streets, in our Road to the White House No-Excuses Tour, giving talks along the way, in Eugene, Boulder, Kansas City, Ann Arbor, Burlington, South Royalton, Boston, New Haven, Voorhees, and Washington DC,
- Last month we took our demand for real action without further delay all the way to Glasgow, during COP 26.
And now, I can tell you about our second major initiative. It arises under the federal Toxic Substances Control Act, the US Constitution, and other law. By it we will demand that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) take action to phase-out fossil fuel greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and compel the major oil, gas and coal companies to remove, or pay to remove, excess carbon from the air. And so:
- On Thursday, December 23, we submitted our draft Petition Seeking a Phaseout of New and Removal of Legacy Fossil Fuel Greenhouse Gas Emissions. Please have a look and give us your feedback by emailing us at info@CPRclimate.org or by using our contact form to submit your message,
- After at least ten days have passed, we will formally file with the EPA. That starts a 90-day window for Agency decision-making (and much public debate),
- If the EPA denies the petition, we will need to take it to the Courts.
We are preparing for it all; none of it will be easy; together we can get it done.
But we need your help. Please provide your largest feasible donation. Your generosity today will resonate in our work tomorrow.
In closing, let’s consider one further question: In light of the continuing deadlock in Congress, when will our moment arrive to press forward with these critical decarbonization initiatives?
The answer, really, is perfectly clear. It is, and must be, now, right now.
Thank you,
Daniel M Galpern
General Counsel & Executive Director
Climate Protection and Restoration Initiative
Support our Work
Thank you, in advance, for considering a tax-deductible contribution to support this and other critical work at CPR Initiative.
Footnotes:
- 1And if user fee revenues are rebated on a per capita basis, then lower and moderate-income households will be held harmless, on average, if fuel prices climb.