Tell Our U.S. Senators to Take Action Now Against Dangerous “Super Pollutant” HFCs
Letter-Writing Documents & Resources

Friday, May 8, 3pmET – Join UUSJ and UUMFE ZOOM online letter-writing campaign to tell your senators to address global warming by taking action to phase down the production and replace one of the most dangerous “super pollutants” — hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), a powerful greenhouse gas with vastly more heat-trapping capacity than carbon dioxide — with safer alternatives.

During this session, we will discuss the Senate Bill and why it is important that we reach out, find individual Senators and addresses, show examples of what to write in the letters, and how to upload to our website.

The COVID-19 pandemic reminds us that we all are only as safe as our most vulnerable and our surroundings. As engaged UUs, we have pledged to protect the vulnerable and the environment, no matter what else is going on in the world. One critical way to do that is to address the global climate crisis. This effort is ever more pressing at a time when the corona virus is endangering those with respiratory ailments and underlying health issues.

During the Spring for Change: A Season of Sacred Activism, we are asking our senators to address global warming by taking action to phase down production and replace one of the most dangerous “super pollutants” — hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), a powerful greenhouse gas with vastly more heat-trapping capacity than carbon dioxide — with safer alternatives. This would in turn spur innovation and create new jobs. We are asking senators to vote for the American Innovation and Manufacturing Act of 2019 (S.2754), which addresses improving air quality and the health of vulnerable people, many of whom are impacted by COVID-19.

Due to COVID-19 our UUSJ Capitol Hill Advocacy Corps is not able to make office visits and deliver letters personally to senators’ offices. But we will contact and email the letters to the appropriate senate staff. And set up meeting with key Senate offices. This helps us maintain and build relationships for the long haul.  

Our members of Congress need to know that, as an essential aspect of our democracy, we are still paying attention and holding them accountable.

The following includes virtual advocacy and letter-writing tips and issue materials for you to organize a virtual letter-writing event. See item #3 below. 

1. Start here — Write Here! Write Now! Climate Justice Activists 

• How do we conduct a virtual letter-writing event? Read the options for conducting letter-writing here: WHWN Virtual Letter-Writing Ideas.
• When do we conduct the letter-writing? April 19-May 10. What is the deadline for sending letters?  Letters are due Thursday, May 14 by 6:00pmET.
• How do I submit letters? 1. Upload letters using the online WHWN Letter Submission Form. 2. By mail – the mailing address is in the WHWN Handout. 3. Scan and email. — Details are on the WHWN Handout.

2. Our Earth Month WHWN letter-writing issue:  Tell Your Senators to Take Action Now Against Dangerous “Super Pollutant” HFCs.  WHWN Handout – a one-page, two-sided handout includes: background on the issue and legislative update, talking points, suggested questions to ask and a sample letter. Make it intergenerational. See idea #4 below.

3. Sign up and join our virtual letter-writing party on Friday, April 24 at 3pmET via ZOOM – learn more – register here. This event is part of the Earth Day Live 2020 interfaith online convergence for climate justice. We will have an issue briefing, discuss how to conduct a virtual advocacy writing event, or just come ready to write your letter along with others. We will also let you know about an upcoming Action Alert for regulatory comment to EPA on “silencing science.”

4. Involve children and youth – Are you looking for an activity for your kids? Teach them about living out our 5th and 7th Principles: Make this a fun and intergenerational family-friendly event! If you have children or youth, give them an opportunity to write letters or draw pictures. They should print their names and include their mailing address – Hill staff will then know they are from the Senator’s state and they may get a response.

5.  More about super pollutant greenhouse gases: 

Super-pollutant greenhouse gases such as methane, black carbon (aka soot), nitrous oxide, chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) don’t have a long lifespan in the atmosphere (measured in days and decades rather than the centuries that carbon dioxide could hang around) but data suggest they have an outsize negative impact on the global warming trend during their aerial lifespan. Indeed, some figures suggest that collectively speaking, super pollutants may be contributing as much as 50 percent to the current warming trends of the planet. Without more aggressive reduction or phase-out measures, there’s a strong possibility that temperatures could rise 1.5 degrees Celsius before 2030 (barely a decade away) with catastrophic implications for human health, according to a 2018 event report. [from GreenBiz Group].

Want to write your members of Congress regularly? UUSJ offers a monthly letter-writing campaign. We send you a promotional announcement to adapt and a WHWN issue handout for your writing tables. Want to explore becoming a partner? Contact Lavona Grow at advocacy@uusj.org.

UUSJ’s strategic location in Washington, D.C. gives us the opportunity to advocate regularly at the federal level. UUSJ is the only UU organization with a regular presence on Capitol Hill. Advocacy Corps members visit members of Congress and their staff every month. We advocate for UU values and voices and deliver Write Here! Write Now! letters on issues of UU concern from UUs across the country. UUSJ is a 501(c)3(h) non-profit organization.