{"id":27644,"date":"2023-07-30T13:43:29","date_gmt":"2023-07-30T20:43:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/?p=27644"},"modified":"2023-07-30T13:43:30","modified_gmt":"2023-07-30T20:43:30","slug":"july-should-be-a-wake-up-call-senator-says-biden-must-stop-approving-new-fossil-fuel-projects","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/2023\/07\/30\/july-should-be-a-wake-up-call-senator-says-biden-must-stop-approving-new-fossil-fuel-projects\/","title":{"rendered":"‘July Should Be a Wake-Up Call’: Senator Says Biden Must Stop Approving New Fossil Fuel Projects"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"Sen.<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.)\u2014\u201dwearing sticker reading “Fossil Fuels = Climate Emergency = Extinction”\u2014speaks at a December 2, 2023 Fire Drill Fridays protest in Washington, D.C. calling on President Joe Biden to declare a climate emergency. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

(Photo: Paul Morigi\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“We are in a climate emergency,” said Oregon Democrat Jeff Merkley. “We can’t take a piecemeal approach to the massive crisis we face.”<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

BRETT WILKINS<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jul 28, 2023 (CommonDreams.org)<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Citing the extreme temperatures baking much of the United States during July\u2014which is set to be the hottest<\/a><\/a> month ever recorded on Earth\u2014Democratic U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley of Oregon on Thursday called on President Joe Biden to stop approving new fossil fuel projects and declare a climate emergency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During his Thursday speech<\/a> on the heat, Biden asked the Labor Department to increase efforts to protect workers from extreme temperatures and to announce new Interior Department water storage investments in Western states. However, the president did not unveil any new measures to combat the planetary emergency. He didn’t even mention fossil fuels, the main driver of global heating.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Americans are roasting and suffering under extreme heat and smoke in nearly every corner of our country. In Arizona, people are getting third-degree burns just from falling on the ground, while even East Coast states are experiencing air clogged with smoke from forest fires,” Merkley said in a statement<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We need additional emergency funding to address the impact of heat and smoke.
No more greenlighting fossil gas projects.
No more stalling on a Climate Emergency.

Now is the time for us to make the transition to renewable energy and create high-quality union jobs while we do it.<\/p>— Senator Jeff Merkley (@SenJeffMerkley) July 28, 2023<\/a><\/blockquote>