Washington, DC, November 3, 2021 – The SmarterSafer Coalition issued the following statement in response to the 26th annual global climate summit COP26 in Glasgow, Scotland:
“SmarterSafer is looking to our world leaders at COP26 to act on their commitments to mitigate the devastating effects of climate change. Climate change-driven natural disasters are becoming far too frequent and severe, and we must collectively pursue and implement long-term solutions that enforce pre-disaster mitigation strategies and address post-disaster impacts.
SmarterSafer stands aligned with COP26’s four goals of mitigation, adaptation, finance, and collaboration. We strongly urge our public leaders to put communities first by enacting policies to fight climate change.”
SmarterSafer emphasizes the following measures to promote pre-disaster mitigation and urges US leaders to pass these proposals to demonstrate action on our global commitments at COP26:
- S.1688, the Flood Risk Management Act, to reinstitute and codify a federal flood protection standard to require federally funded infrastructure projects to adequately account for flood risks.
- S. 1282, the Built to Last Act, to improve infrastructure resiliency by ensuring the developing organizations that establish building codes have access to forward-looking meteorological information.
- H.R. 2632, the Build for Future Disasters Act, to eliminate any subsidies for flood insurance coverage under the National Flood Insurance Program for new construction, and for other purposes.
- H.R. 481, the Flood Resiliency and Taxpayer Savings Act, to safeguard taxpayer resources and strengthen the Nation’s resilience against severe storms and flooding.
- S. 1248, the Outdoor Restoration Partnership Act, which would create an outdoor restoration fund to restore forest and watersheds as well as invest in local, state, and tribal governments to implement mitigation strategies.
- S.1734 and H.R. 3442, the National Prescribed Fire Act of 2021, which would require pre-season prescribed burns to reduce the risk of wildfire and create workforce development programs to build the human capital needed to conduct these burns.
- S. 2150 and H.R. 4082, the Wildland Fire Mitigation and Management Commission Act, to establish a commission to study and recommend fire prevention, mitigation, management, and rehabilitation policies for forests and grasslands.
SmarterSafer is a national coalition made up of a diverse chorus of voices united in favor of environmentally responsible, fiscally sound approaches to natural catastrophe policy that promote public safety. SmarterSafer members include taxpayer advocates, environmental groups, insurance interests, housing organizations, and mitigation advocates.
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