IV 

118TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. RES. 1563 

Expressing the sense of Congress that the United States is committed to 

ensuring a safe and healthy climate for future generations, and thus 

to restoring the climate. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

NOVEMBER 5, 2024 

Mr. THOMPSON of California (for himself, Ms. ESHOO, Mr. CARBAJAL, Mr. 

THANEDAR, and Mr. MORELLE) submitted the following resolution; which 

was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition 

to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions 

as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 

RESOLUTION 

Expressing the sense of Congress that the United States 

is committed to ensuring a safe and healthy climate 

for future generations, and thus to restoring the climate. 

Whereas humanity has an obligation to future generations to 

restore and maintain a safe climate that ensures our 

long-term survival; 

Whereas, prior to the industrial revolution, humans have 

never lived with a sustained atmospheric carbon dioxide 

(CO2) concentration above 300 parts per million (ppm); 

Whereas today’s atmospheric CO2 concentration is approximately 420 ppm, 50 percent higher than in preindustrial 


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•HRES 1563 IH 

times, resulting in destructive impacts on climate, agriculture, the environment, human health, and economies 

around the world; 

Whereas the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change set its climate goal to stabilize greenhouse 

gas (GHG) levels in 1992, when the atmospheric CO2 

concentration was 350 ppm, which is the maximum level 

theorized to sustain the ecosystems to which humans 

have adapted; 

Whereas, in this resolution, ‘‘climate restoration’’ refers to— 

(1) the goal of restoring the atmospheric CO2 concentration to that which humans have survived long-term, 

(below 300 ppm); and 

(2) actions required to achieve that concentration; 

Whereas climate restoration is a crucial complement to rapid 

and deep emissions reductions; 

Whereas climate restoration by 2050, will require removing 

approximately 1,000,000,000,000 tons of CO2 from the 

atmosphere, or net 50,000,000,000 tons per year for 20 

years; 

Whereas, approximately 1,000,000,000,000 tons of CO2 were 

removed from the atmosphere by natural processes 10 

times in the last 1,000,000 years, and naturally occurring mechanisms are capable of removing geologically significant amounts of atmospheric CO2, including carbon 

sequestration by the ocean carbon biological pump; 

Whereas scientists and technologists have developed and demonstrated CO2 sequestration methods that replicate and 

leverage these natural processes in ways that significantly 

reduce atmospheric CO2 concentrations; 


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•HRES 1563 IH 

Whereas Congress should encourage investigation and investment in CO2 removal methods and technologies that leverage existing natural processes, as well as other technologies; 

Whereas, in addition to CO2 removal, restoring the Earth’s 

energy balance relies on reducing feedback loops that 

negatively affect surface albedo, global ocean and atmospheric circulation patterns, and cloud cover; 

Whereas removing methane and other short-lived climate pollutants from the atmosphere between now and 2030 is 

essential as a bridge to achieving longer term climate restoration; 

Whereas climate restoration will benefit the people of the 

United States by reducing loss and damage from heat 

waves, floods, storms, droughts, wildfires, and other disasters exacerbated by climate change, while producing 

positive effects on human and ecosystem health, along 

with benefiting the economy as a whole; 

Whereas climate restoration is a precondition for intergenerational climate justice, as young people will suffer the 

worst effects of climate breakdown; 

Whereas the urgent action needed to restore a safe climate 

is consistent with H. Res. 975, introduced in 2022, and 

H. Res. 259, introduced in 2023, which are resolutions 

that recognize the mental health impacts of recurrent climate-related disasters on youth, a group especially vulnerable to the physical and mental health impacts of climate-related disasters, and the far greater suffering 

young people and future generations will endure if the 

climate continues to worsen; and 


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•HRES 1563 IH 

Whereas, on July 3, 2023, the California Senate passed SR– 

34, becoming the first State to pass a resolution formally 

recognizing an obligation to future generations to restore 

the atmospheric CO2 concentration to a safe level, below 

300 ppm, and calling for action by the Federal Government, in the form of an international climate treaty, to 

restore and stabilize greenhouse gas concentrations as a 

common climate goal: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That Congress— 

2 (1) formally recognizes its obligation to future 

3 generations to restore a safe climate; 

4 (2) declares that climate restoration, along with 

5 achieving net-zero CO2 emissions, are climate policy 

6 priorities; and 

7 (3) calls on the President, Secretary of State, 

8 and United States Ambassador to the United Na9 tions to take actions that will restore the climate 

10 and stabilize greenhouse gas concentrations at 

11 preindustrial levels. 

Æ 


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