“Earth Day is an annual reminder that each individual has a role to play in protecting and preserving our environment. The Pacific Northwest has a proud history of supporting the environmental movement and I am honored to represent a district that truly understands the importance of curbing climate change and caring for our environment.

“I believe that we must continue to fight for communities, both around the world and here in the U.S., who are the most vulnerable to unpredictable temperatures, rising sea levels, and extreme weather. In addition to environmental and structural damages inflicted by extreme climate events, people with lower incomes often experience more negative health effects than other groups, making climate change a public health crisis. As the second-largest emitter, with only about five percent of the world’s population, it is the responsibility of the U.S. to lead by example in reducing carbon emissions and supporting renewable energy technologies.

“Earth Day 2016 is an opportunity for the international community to come together to combat the very real threat of climate change. April 22, 2016 marks the first day that the Paris Agreement formed at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change will be open for signature. This agreement calls for global cooperation on addressing the causes and effects of climate change. We must take decisive action now to reduce the impacts of global climate change in order to protect our planet for the generations to come.”