CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Several members of Illinois’ Congressional Delegation say the state stands to gain if President-elect Biden rejoins the Paris accords on climate change as he’s promised.
A report for a congressional subcommittee shows that if the U.S., again, adopted the Paris Agreement standards to control global warming, Illinois would reap long-lasting health and economic benefits. Downers Grove Congressman Sean Casten chairs the panel.
"What the researchers found is that the economic impact, and again this is just on the state of Illinois, is that all of that adds up economically to $1.8 trillion to the state of Illinois that would not be there if we do not meet these goals," he said.
Howard Learner, President of the Environmental Law & Policy Center, added that time is running out.
"Mother Nature hasn't paused on climate change while President Trump has been in office. We have however lost valuable time when it comes to climate solutions and progress," Learner said.
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Naperville Congresswoman Lauren Underwood said congressional action is needed too.
"We all have our personal wishlists about climate-related legislation. The top of mine is my Climate and Health Protection Act. It's so important when we talk about public health impacts on climate change, we need to have tools and resources and agencies at the federal level to help communities and states, right?" she said.
Casten said winning passage isn’t always easy.
He and other Democrats in the house agree that legislation is needed just as much as executive orders.