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[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1563 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>

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 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;
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
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
    Resolved, That Congress--
            (1) formally recognizes its obligation to future 
        generations to restore a safe climate;
            (2) declares that climate restoration, along with achieving 
        net-zero CO2 emissions, are climate policy priorities; and
            (3) calls on the President, Secretary of State, and United 
        States Ambassador to the United Nations to take actions that 
        will restore the climate and stabilize greenhouse gas 
        concentrations at preindustrial levels.
                                 <all>
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