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 de-
termined 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 approxi-
mately 420 ppm, 50 percent higher than in preindustrial 
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•HRES 1563 IH 
times, resulting in destructive impacts on climate, agri-
culture, the environment, human health, and economies 
around the world; 
Whereas the United Nations Framework Convention on Cli-
mate 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 con-
centration 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 occur-
ring mechanisms are capable of removing geologically sig-
nificant amounts of atmospheric CO2, including carbon 
sequestration by the ocean carbon biological pump; 
Whereas scientists and technologists have developed and dem-
onstrated 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 invest-
ment in CO2 removal methods and technologies that le-
verage existing natural processes, as well as other tech-
nologies; 
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 atmos-
pheric circulation patterns, and cloud cover; 
Whereas removing methane and other short-lived climate pol-
lutants from the atmosphere between now and 2030 is 
essential as a bridge to achieving longer term climate res-
toration; 
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 dis-
asters 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 intergenera-
tional 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 cli-
mate-related disasters on youth, a group especially vul-
nerable to the physical and mental health impacts of cli-
mate-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 Govern-
ment, 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 Na-
tions to take actions that will restore the climate 
and stabilize greenhouse gas concentrations at 
preindustrial levels. 
Æ 
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