Billie Eilish and her brother-slash-producer, Finneas, are leading calls for US Congress to support Joe Biden’s “Build Back Better” bill, which is described as “the largest climate protection bill in American history”.
In a wide-ranging social media campaign — also including veteran climate campaigners such as Jane Fonda and Leonardo DiCaprio — the musicians will share posts depicting extreme weather conditions next week, with the hashtags #CodeRedClimate and #CodeRedCongress.
The aim is to raise awareness of the climate crisis, and to encourage fans to email local representatives in a bid to gather support for the “Build Back Better” bill. Others taking part in the #CodeRedClimate campaign, according to Billboard, include Public Enemy’s Chuck D, Brittany Howard, Melissa Etheridge, Maroon 5, Huey Lewis and The News, Mark Ruffalo, and more.
During the week commencing September 27, US Congress is set to vote on the “Build Back Better” bill, which outlines how to reach 80 per cent pollution-free electricity in the country by 2030, cut fossil fuel subsidies, and provide tax incentives for sustainable technologies including solar and wind power, electric cars, and charging stations.
The bill will also reportedly drive “major investment” into communities that have been disproportionately affected by climate injustice.
If the “Build Back Better” bill passes, the US aims to enter global climate negotiations — scheduled to begin later this year — with the goal of cutting climate pollution 100 per cent by 2050.
Last month, the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released a new climate report warning of irreversible damage, describing the situation as a “code red for humanity”. A longtime critic of politicians’ inaction on environmental issues, Greta Thunberg noted that the report “contains no real surprises”, adding: “It confirms what we already know from thousands previous studies and reports — that we are in an emergency.”
