Climate Crisis

Facing the Climate Crisis with Bold Solutions

The climate crisis is no longer a distant threat—it’s our reality. From record-breaking heat and rising sea levels to increasingly destructive storms and unpredictable winters, the effects are unfolding around us in real time. In cities like Chicago, milder winters and reduced snowfall are already changing how we live. The city’s $4 billion investment in a massive deep tunnel stormwater system is just one example of the urgent infrastructure adaptations already underway.

But adaptation isn’t enough. We need a bold, coordinated strategy to confront climate change at its roots—and that means transforming how we power our lives, protect our environment, and hold polluters accountable.

Hold Polluters Accountable

First and foremost, we must crack down on the corporations that knowingly pollute our air and water. That means:

  • Dramatically increasing fines for companies that violate environmental laws

  • Revoking business licenses for repeat offenders and those responsible for large-scale environmental disasters

  • Criminal penalties for companies engaging in illegal fossil fuel trade, such as the black market sale or purchase of oil—penalties that exceed any profits gained

The right to do business in the United States must come with a basic responsibility: do not destroy the health of our communities or our planet.

Transition Off Fossil Fuels

Our long-term survival depends on reducing our national reliance on fossil fuels. This transition won’t look the same in every region, but the goal is the same: cleaner, more sustainable energy sources that meet local needs.

  • In cities, we need to accelerate EV adoption with expanded federal tax credits and increase investment in public transportation. Tools like congestion pricing in cities such as Chicago, Los Angeles, and Boston can ease traffic, lower emissions, and make transit a more viable alternative.
    In metropolitan regions, nuclear energy—already safely and widely used in Illinois—should be considered as a low-emission, reliable energy source to complement renewables.

  • In rural and suburban areas, expanding residential solar power can help reduce strain on local grids. Wind turbines can power farms and rural industries, making clean energy an engine for economic growth in every part of the country.

A Tailored, Regional Approach

There is no one-size-fits-all solution to climate change. Every region—urban, suburban, and rural—has different resources, challenges, and opportunities. Our strategy must reflect that reality. But what ties every solution together is a commitment to sustainability, environmental justice, and future generations.

We have the technology. We have the knowledge. What we need now is leadership.

Let’s stop treating climate change as someone else’s problem and start building an energy future that works for everyone—cleaner, smarter, and more resilient.