For many who thought the movement was just biding its time until the next administration, the upcoming vote on the Climate Security Act has hit like the jolt of a cold shower.  We are now confronted with the possibility of creating a bridge from a land of lawless greenhouse gas emissions to the first ever U.S. legislation to regulate global warming pollution.  This is an opportunity to fill a gaping hole in federal policy.

The trek to this bridge has been long, demanding our utmost determination to fight back well-heeled corporate lobbyists and members of Congress seeking to liquefy coal, prevent higher fuel efficiency standards, and wring oil from the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.  Now that we are finally here, there is hesitation: “What kind of future will the Climate Security Act lead us to?  Do we cross this bridge to a safer place or we stand at the edge and wait, demanding an Eden on the other side?”

These are the questions National Wildlife Federation and every other group has had to weigh in deciding whether or not to support the bill.  This important debate has yielded two basic options — 1) “Fix or ditch” or 2) “Strenghten and pass”.  After lengthy analysis and dialogue, and faced with the urgency of the climate crisis, NWF is working to strengthen and pass the Climate Security Act.  The Climate Security Act is not perfect, but it’s a really good start.  And even if it doesn’t pass, the debate on the Senate floor will provide important momentum for passing strong climate legislation in 2009.

Here are a few reasons why NWF supports the Climate Security Act:

The Act reduces emissions: Unlike past votes in Congress for measures that would have merely stopped emissions from growing, the Act puts us quickly on the downward trajectory of cutting emissions from large emitters by 2% per year from current levels.  U.S. emissions would be 18% lower in 2020 than they are today.

Recharges America’s economy: The Act will help accelerate America’s transition to a clean energy future.  It funds renewable energy, energy efficiency, advanced vehicles, and mass transit.  By 2050, $190 billion is used to fund green jobs training programs and help affected workers transition to the clean energy workforce.

Assists small businesses and low-income families: Polluter payments are used to help consumers reduce their energy consumption through efficiency upgrades.  More than $1.7 trillion in tax relief and other assistance would be available to small businesses and low-income families.  The Climate Security Act ensures that the costs of clean energy are paid by polluters and do not burden working class Americans.

Protects wildlife and natural resources: The natural resources and systems that we all depend on are already being impacted by global warming.  By 2030, a total of $137 billion is allocated to help vulnerable species and ecosystems survive global warming.

We cannot afford not to act. The longer we delay, the more greenhouse gases build in the atmosphere.  Waiting just two years to pass climate change legislation will mean that we have to reduce emissions 4% per year, rather than 2% per year, to achieve the same cumulative cuts by 2020.

So there is much good riding on this vote — the process officially begins on Monday, June 2nd.  We’d love your support, of course, but whatever your view, perhaps what is most important to take away from this historic vote is the need to continue building a diverse and powerful grassroots base that will turn the tide on global warming.  We won’t get the legislation we want until we really drum up some noise and pressure our members of Congress.  As the generation that will be most affected by global warming, we have a particularly important role to play in creating the future climate we want to inhabit.  From the lobby visits at Powershift to state victories, young people have been instrumental in shaping climate policy and influencing key votes.  Starting this summer, NWF and its partners in the Energy Action Coalition are ramping up our efforts and working with thousands of leaders across the the nation to run PowerVote — a campaign to build the youth climate movement to one million strong, to push candidates to take a stronger stance on climate and to elevate the issue in election races across the country.  We’re all in this together and together we are changing history.