Unprecedented. That was the word used to describe most everything in the year 2020. Now, a year later, we’re still grappling with the impacts of the pandemic, but we’re using unprecedented to describe something different: climate-fueled disasters.
2021 is showing us what our future will look like if we don’t take action on the climate crisis. Right now, the Western U.S. is wrestling with ever-increasing wildfires. The Caldor Fire alone has burned over 200,000 acres of land and continues to rage with flaming paths spanning forty feet wide. It burns alongside the Dixie Fire, California’s second largest wildfire on record, damaging over 900,000 acres. At the same time, the East Coast and Gulf Coast are dealing with an already intense hurricane season. Last week, hurricane Ida blew through the Southeast, causing significant destruction to states like Louisiana and Mississippi. The tail of the storm reached the Northeast, causing massive flooding and tornadoes in New York, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey.
The common thread among these events is the climate crisis. The burning of fossil fuels warms our planet, setting in motion natural feedback loops, or cycles of compounding conditions that worsen climate impacts. These feedbacks can drive events such as droughts, which turn places like California into a tinderbox that can erupt into a deadly inferno from a single spark. They also contribute to increasingly severe storms by raising ocean temperatures, which in turn feed into and strengthen hurricanes and tropical storms.
Despite the present and impending impacts of the climate crisis, scientists remain firm that we still have the ability to mitigate this crisis and avoid the worst-case scenario, but we must act immediately and at every level. Collective action towards decarbonization is the key to unlocking a more sustainable and prosperous future. The latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report — authored by leading climate experts from the synthesis of nearly 14,000 articles of peer-reviewed science — offers us fresh ammunition in the fight for our future.
Our team at Climate XChange is as dedicated as ever to carrying out our mission of helping facilitate state-level climate policy that decarbonizes our economy and spurs the adoption of clean energy. We’re also doubling down on providing the tools, research, and expertise needed to support stakeholders across the U.S. in pushing for just and equitable climate policies.
To do this, though, we need your support. Our Tesla Raffle allows us to continue our work towards achieving a durable, just transition away from polluting fossil fuels. This year’s grand prize is our biggest yet, with a total value of $227,000+ including all taxes paid for, of course. We’re also offering 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th place cash prizes to increase your odds of winning!
GRAND PRIZE
Your choice of: Tesla Model S Plaid all-electric luxury performance sedan or Model X SUV or Model 3 Midsize Sedan or or Model Y Midsize SUV with any options
Max car total (which is for Model S Plaid) = $150,190
Max Tax Payments = $77,425
Total Value = $227,615
Tax Breakdown for Max Payments:
MA Sales Tax: $9,687 ǀ Registration Fee: $300 ǀ Federal Prize Taxes: $56,900 ǀ MA Prize Taxes: $10,839
2nd Prize
$10,000
3rd Prize
$5,000
4th Prize
$3,000
5th Prize
$2,000
Most recently, our research team delved into assessing how a pandemic recovery can prioritize investments in public infrastructure and community programs that drive both emissions reductions and improvements to communities’ quality of life. Our reports on both Washington State and Massachusetts remain some of the first reports to comprehensively analyze state-level green recoveries from the pandemic. We also continue to provide technical expertise to advocates, legislators, and organizations across the country seeking to strengthen and pass climate policies in their states.
At the same time, our State Climate Policy Network (SCPN) is cultivating a community built on innovation, resource sharing, and cross-collaboration. With over 16,000 activists, policymakers, business leaders, educators, scientists, and various other stakeholders passionate about pushing for just and equitable climate policy across U.S. states, the community strengthens by the day. By the end of 2021, we will be launching a new Network page on our website that provides information and resources on state-level climate policy.
Our advocacy team is well positioned to make progress in both Massachusetts and Maryland by convening diverse state-wide coalitions in support of meaningful climate action. Our leadership in both states’ climate movements, the strength of our cross-sector coalitions, and the expansiveness of our local grassroots infrastructures equips us with the influence and resources to make significant strides for climate in the coming year. And with the additions of full-time organizing staff, we’re ready to see legislative success.
There’s still a lot of work to be done. We couldn’t have gotten to where we are — or where we’re going — without the Tesla Raffle and the support from our community. Each ticket invests in a livable future and planet for generations to come. The future is electric, so don’t wait to get a Tesla — win one!
