Congresswoman Cori Bush has been touring areas of her district hit hard by this week's flooding. She told KMOX that her priority right now is making sure people who were displaced are getting the help they need — but she's also using the disaster as an opportunity to talk about climate change.
“To hear that one-in-1,000 year event, that’s what this is, there’s no debate that climate change is real,” Bush said. “It is real, we’re seeing it, the thing is we have to call it what it is so that we can address it properly.”
Bush said changes must be made and while that means money, it also means everyone must look at their own carbon footprints. She added that corporations perpetuating the problems must be held accountable for their contributions to climate change. Science.org reports that just 90 companies are responsible for 63% of greenhouse gas emissions worldwide.
Bush is once again pleading with Governor Parson to request a federal disaster declaration. She said President Biden is ready to sign it to get federal resources into St. Louis.
Bush said having conversations about the issue and raising awareness is key.
“Speaking up on an issue or making an issue your priority, how it can change things — and it may not change things overnight — but it opens up other people's minds,” she said. “We’re able to get other people on board with what we believe.”
Reports from the Environmental Defense Fund show that climate change increases the frequency and severity of extreme weather events.