Tornadoes In California, Climate Denial In Texas: The Cost Of Inaction
As the planet burns, Texas Republicans double down on fossil fuels.
Note: On Thursday’s Post, Meet The New House Democrats, I overlooked Charlene Ward Johnson (D-HD139). I have since added her bio. 🙂
Yesterday in San Fransisco, California, they experienced their first tornado and warning ever—in the history of tracking weather. As someone who has lived in Tornado Alley their entire life, I found a few things about this incident odd—mainly the interviews with bystanders who spoke about the sound. Here in Texas, we know that a tornado sounds like a train headed straight toward you.
When they heard that sound in San Francisco, they thought it was an earthquake. They never even considered that a tornado could be in their backyard.
This time, it was a little, baby tornado (EF1), but it appears that our climate crisis will bring tornados to California. And the next time, it might not be a baby tornado.
According to ABC, America has just experienced its warmest autumn on record.
But we all know we’re in a climate crisis, which is causing more extreme weather events.
What does that have to do with Texas?
America has emitted the most carbon dioxide (CO2) in history, accounting for 20.3% of the global total since 1850. Although the United States no longer leads the world in total annual CO2 emissions, as of 2021, it released about 5 billion metric tons of CO2 per year, which was about 13.49% of the total global emissions—more than twice that of all 28 countries in the European Union combined.
Texas is the largest contributor to climate change in the United States. In 2019, it emitted 683.2 million metric tons—nearly twice as much as second-place California. If Texas were a nation, it would rank as the eighth-largest emitter in the world.
In America, we bear the brunt of the responsibility for climate change. In Texas, even more.
Unironically, Texas is also the state most vulnerable to climate change.
An ICJ climate opinion may soon shape the future of climate justice.
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) recently concluded hearings on a landmark case led by Vanuatu and other Pacific island nations. The case seeks to establish legal accountability for the climate crisis. Over two weeks, more than 100 countries and organizations presented arguments, with major polluters like the US, China, and Saudi Arabia isolated in their opposition to being held legally responsible for climate change.
Here is a short film (10 minutes) on the impacts of climate change in Vanuatu:
The ICJ judges will now determine whether nations have a legal obligation to combat climate change and what consequences governments should face for failing to act.
At the ICJ hearings, American State Department officials said our current climate rules are satisfactory, referring to the Paris Climate Agreement—the same one Trump plans to withdraw us from next month.
A few weeks ago, at COP29, the United Nations Climate Change Conference, America and other Western Nations agreed to a $300 billion annual global climate finance target by 2035 to aid poorer nations in adapting to climate change impacts. However, recipients and climate advocates widely criticized this as insufficient. They need $1.3 trillion to fight the current effects of climate change on their smaller, developing nations.
Wealthy nations like the United States have historically contributed the most to climate change but continue to avoid meaningful responsibility for its consequences.
The message is clear: profits over people, politics over the planet.
While the federal government falters on the global stage, Texas Republicans are also actively working to dismantle climate progress.
While only a fraction of these bills will become law, there’s merit to discussing them. Even if many bills don’t become law, their filing highlights the issues lawmakers want to be focused on. Considering where we are with the climate crisis, these bills tell us which GOP members are climate deniers and which believe in profit over human life.
HB188 by Brooks Landgraf (R-HD81): The bill directs significant funding toward regions most impacted by oil and gas activities by reallocating money from funds like the Texas Emissions Reduction Plan. It deprioritizes programs aimed at mitigating environmental harm from fossil fuel activities. The bill reinforces Texas’s reliance on oil and gas.
HB263 by Ryan Guillen (R-HD31): This bill proposes reducing the allocation criteria for grants from the Transportation Infrastructure Fund, which supports infrastructure improvements in counties impacted by oil and gas production. While this bill calls for a broader distribution of funds (by county), the reductions in allocations for oil and gas production taxes, horizontal well completions, and vertical well completions will dilute the direct benefits to the counties most impacted by production.
HCR15 by Mark Dorazio (R-HD122): This concurrent resolution carries no legal force but serves as an official statement of the Texas Legislature’s position and an attempt to influence federal policy. It urges the federal government to support the construction of the Eastern Mediterranean Gas Pipeline, a project connecting Israel’s offshore natural gas reserves to southern Europe via Cyprus and Greece.
HB553 by Jared Patterson (R-HD106): This bill introduces sweeping new regulations for clean energy. Under its framework, renewable energy generation facilities must undergo the same permitting, monitoring, and regulatory requirements as fossil fuels. The bill requires operators to obtain permits from the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUC) and comply with environmental impact assessments and operational regulations. It’s nonsense and meant to increase roadblocks for clean energy.
HB408 by Caroline Harris-Davila (R-HD52): This bill prohibits the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) from giving preferential treatment to materials selected based on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) criteria—such as carbon emission reduction or environmentally friendly—if it isn’t the cheapest option.
As dire as the climate situation is, Texans—and Americans as a whole—are failing to meet the moment.
In November, 7.3 million registered voters in Texas stayed home.
Despite the escalating climate crisis and its visible impacts across the state and the nation, turnout was dismal. Even Gen Z, the generation often touted as being the most climate-conscious, largely stayed away from the polls.
This failure to show up at the ballot box has consequences, especially in Texas. Every missed vote is a lost opportunity to challenge lawmakers who prioritize corporate profits and fossil fuel interests over a livable future. Every uncast ballot cedes ground to those working to dismantle progress on renewable energy, emissions reductions, and climate resilience.
The reality is sobering: the next four years will be brutal for Americans.
Climate change is just one part of the storm we’re bracing for. Inflation, stagnant wages, and housing affordability crises tighten their grip on working families. Healthcare remains a constant struggle, and student debt relief has been gutted. But climate change is unique in that it threatens everything else—our homes, health, economy, and survival.
We are signing our future away if we don’t show up now. It’s that simple.
If you’re ready to take action, you don’t have to wait for the next election.
The Texas Legislature is already gearing up for its next session, and that’s where critical decisions on the climate crisis will be made. To stay informed and amplify your voice, follow and engage with climate advocacy groups already on the frontlines:
These organizations provide updates, action alerts, and opportunities to participate in advocacy campaigns. Whether attending hearings, contacting your representatives, or joining protests, you can make your voice heard—and every voice counts.
This is our fight. The question is whether we’re ready to fight it.
January 14: The 89th Legislative Session begins.
March 14: The last day Legislators can file bills.
June 2: The 89th Legislative Session ends.
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