Sen. Whitehouse, Rep. Cartwright Introduce Comprehensive Legislation to Combat Climate Change

Responding to increasing and pervasive impacts of climate change on both natural and human communities, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Rep. Matt Cartwright (D-PA-8) introduced the Safeguarding America’s Future and Environment (SAFE) Act in the Senate and House of Representatives today.

The SAFE Act would support climate change adaptation for wildlife, habitats and human communities and economies by legislatively adopting the National Fish, Wildlife, and Plants Climate Adaptation Strategy. The Strategy, originally conceived by Defenders of Wildlife, is a comprehensive roadmap developed and implemented over several years to support species and habitats to adapt to climate change.

The critical need for this bill is illustrated by Defenders’ Field Guide to Climate Change, which offers dozens of examples of current climate change impacts on species and habitats around the country.

Jamie Rappaport Clark, president and CEO of Defenders of Wildlife, issued this statement: 

“In light of the recent United Nations report on impending species extinctions, it is devastatingly apparent that we need to redouble our efforts to safeguard our natural world from climate change impacts. The SAFE Act is designed to do just that. This bill recognizes the countless benefits strong and resilient natural systems provide to our country’s well-being by legislating a comprehensive national strategy to prioritize climate change adaptation nationwide.

“We commend Senator Whitehouse and Representative Cartwright for their leadership on this critical issue and look forward to the passage of the Safeguarding America’s Future and Environment Act of 2019.”