Trump’s Proposed Budget Should Address the Climate Crisis, Not Ignore It

U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor, Chair of the Select Committee on the Climate Crisis, released the following statement in response to the Trump administration’s proposed fiscal year 2020 budget, which would slash funding for the Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy and eliminate ARPA-E:

“The Trump administration’s budget proposal ignores the climate crisis.  Climate science is clear: To help avert climate catastrophe, the United States needs to transition to a clean energy economy as fast as possible.  The climate crisis must be addressed through virtually all areas of American life and, as a result, virtually all areas of the President’s budget should reflect this. 

“The President’s budget fails to respond to the administration’s own warnings contained in the National Climate Assessment or propose any means to tackle the crisis.  For example, moving to the clean energy economy means deploying technology we have now but also investing in new research to accelerate the development of breakthrough technologies and create new jobs.  The Trump administration’s budget eliminates ARPA-E and all-but shutters the Department of Energy office dedicated to incubating groundbreaking research into clean transportation, renewable energy, and energy efficiency—thereby eliminating the hope for our workforce and our planet they bring.  The scope of the climate challenge requires an all-hands-on-deck government investment in so many areas but certainly in advanced energy technologies.  America needs a budget that reflects the urgency of the climate crisis.  The President’s budget lacks the insight and investment needed to get America moving and underscores that the cost of doing nothing is too high."