Today, President Biden signed into law the first ever meaningful federal climate legislation, the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, which includes a historic $369 billion investment in clean energy, transportation, housing and energy efficiency.
These historic investments were made possible by a tenacious movement of grassroots climate activists, led in part by Black, Brown, Indigenous and low-income communities on the frontlines of the climate crisis, and by young people leading action across the country. For the last two years, Jewish climate activists, led in large part by Dayenu, played a crucial role in getting this bill passed.
While the law also includes provisions opening up more public land and water to drilling and mining – a concession to the fossil fuel industry – Jewish climate leaders and activists celebrated the investments and re-committed to ending the era of fossil fuels.
Rabbi Jennie Rosenn, Founder and CEO of Dayenu: A Jewish Call to Climate Action said:
“Finally, our elected leaders have Heard the Call and taken a significant step to ensure a safe and livable future for all people, for generations to come. Today, we say the Shehecheyanu blessing, expressing profound gratitude for having reached this moment.
From organizing shofar-blowing rallies outside their Senators’ offices, to texting and calling voters, to sending messages to our Members of Congress, thousands of Jewish climate activists put all their heart and soul into passing these historic investments
Like the existential crises our ancestors have faced, we won’t stop here. We will continue to confront climate change with courage and determination.
We have much more work to do to end the era of fossil fuels, but today we say Shehecheyanu, grateful for all – Divine and human – who have brought us to this moment.”