Congress can take these key steps after passing landmark climate bill

This is a historic moment for climate action and the end of a dark era, as the House has passed landmark bipartisan legislation to tackle the climate crisis. The Climate Action Now Act would require the United States to cut emissions causing climate change at the rate originally set by the Paris Agreement, from which President Trump had announced his intention to withdraw the United States two years ago. The legislation marks the first climate vote in the House in the last decade and is the first climate bill to pass in either chamber of Congress over that same period. Its passage shows that House leadership is ready to make climate action a priority.

The climate crisis is real and urgent. Since Congress last took up this issue, our nation and the world have begun to see the impacts of climate change firsthand. The four hottest years on record have all occurred in the last five years. The frequency of extreme weather events that end up costing at least $1 billion has increased, with three of the four years with these exorbitantly damaging events occurring in the last decade. The United States has had two disasters each costing more than $1 billion already this year that were exacerbated by climate change. These events were flooding in the Midwest and severe storms in that same region.

{mosads}While the House has taken the first step in cementing its climate legacy for the 116th Congress, the Trump administration continues to deny the very existence of climate change caused by humans while attacking climate protections at every turn. That is why we now need further bipartisan climate action in both chambers of Congress that builds on the momentum of this historic vote. That means that Senate leaders should introduce and take up this legislation for a vote in their chamber.

The political tide in Congress may be turning on climate beliefs, as a few Republican representatives even voted for the legislation, but it is not happening fast enough. When the United States previously joined the Paris Agreement, there was broad bipartisan support for international climate action. When Trump was readying to announce the withdrawal from the Paris Agreement, leaders from both parties, including now Senator Mitt Romney, called on the president to remain in the accord.

Our state and local governments, universities, and businesses are already leading the way on the transition to a clean economy. In the last two years alone, there were more than 3,600 public and private sector leaders who said that they were still in the fight against climate change and its impacts on their economies, communities, and infrastructure. Yet, despite this bipartisan support, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell continues to deny the science and champion polluter talking points. Holding a vote to rejoin the popular Paris Agreement is the least that McConnell can do.

On a positive note, the House vote sets the stage for unifying members of Congress around climate solutions. It is clear that we must move towards a 100 percent clean energy economy that works for everyone, not just for the powerful wealthy polluters. Almost every day, another city or state is setting ambitious goals to reach 100 percent clean and renewable energy economies with broad support across a range of sectors. New Mexico, which previously relied heavily on its oil and gas resources, just passed a 100 percent carbon free electricity target for 2050. In the 2018 midterm elections, more than 550 winning candidates in state and local races committed to moving toward 100 percent clean energy, including nine new governors making clean energy a priority for their administrations.

We must do the same at the national level. A 100 percent clean energy economy will improve both public health and environmental outcomes, enhance job creation and support for affected workers, and prepare communities for climate change impacts and risks. The Climate Action Now Act has set the stage, and members of Congress need to move the conversation forward by introducing bills and contributing to the debate over solutions that put our nation and the world on the path to where science says we need to be. We commend and thank all of the House members who supported this legislation for their leadership on climate action. This is a historic first step, and it is time to do so much more.

Christy Goldfuss is senior vice president for energy and environment policy with the Center for American Progress. She is on Twitter @ChristyGoldfuss.