Friends of the Earth Responds to Passage of Inflation Reduction Act

WASHINGTON – President Biden today signed the Inflation Reduction Act into law, enacting the largest piece of climate legislation in U.S. history.  

Erich Pica, President of Friends of the Earth, issued the following statement: 

The Inflation Reduction Act represents the best Congress can do to address the climate crisis in this moment. It is my hope that in 2030 we look back and see this bill as a turning point for the United States.  

For this to happen we must right the wrongs the Inflation Reduction Act will inflict on communities in the Gulf of Mexico, Appalachia and Alaska and wherever new fossil fuel infrastructure will be built. Transitioning away from fossil fuels is the best hope for our planet, and President Biden and his Administration must use their full regulatory authority, including declaring a climate emergency, to accelerate it.   

We must also defeat Manchin’s side deal that will roll back the National Environmental Policy Act and the Clean Water Act. These laws are the heart of community resistance to more fossil fuel development and are necessary tools for pursuing climate and environmental justice.