Javier Sierra, javier.sierra@sierraclub.org, 703.927.4750
(English follows)
(English)
Sierra Club Welcomes Congressional Proposals for a Carbon Dumping Fee
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Today, it’s reported that Congressional Democrats will introduce legislation to impose a border tax on imported materials made with a high degree of climate pollution.
For years, the Sierra Club has been calling for the establishment of a carbon dumping fee to encourage bold climate action across borders. Read our proposal for more details on how this fee should be designed.
In response, Sierra Club Living Economy Program Director Ben Beachy released the following statement:
“For decades, outdated trade deals have encouraged corporations to outsource their most polluting factories to countries with weaker climate and labor standards, spurring both job loss and climate pollution. A carbon dumping fee is one important tool in the toolbox to help reverse this global race to the bottom in climate standards. We are eager to see the details of this legislation, and we applaud the effort to craft new trade policies that help rather than hinder our historic fight to address the climate crisis.
“A well-designed carbon dumping fee would create a strong incentive for corporations abroad to reduce emissions in order to sell iron, steel, aluminum and other products to the U.S. Similarly, U.S. corporations might press pause on outsourcing to countries with weaker climate and labor standards if they know they will have to pay a fee to sell the materials back in the U.S. It’s high time that we transformed our trade policies to support good jobs, manufacturing renewal, and climate action.”
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Sobre el Sierra Club
El Sierra Club es la mayor y más influyente organización medioambiental de base en Estados Unidos y cuenta con cerca de 4 millones de miembros y seguidores en todo el país. Además de crear oportunidades para que personas de todas las edades, niveles y localizaciones puedan disfrutar de la naturaleza, el Sierra Club se esfuerza en salvaguardar la salud de las comunidades, proteger la vida silvestre, y preservar los restantes parajes naturales por medio de activismo de base, educación pública, cabildeo y en las cortes. Para más información visite: www.sierraclub.org/ecocentro.
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with close to 4 million members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.