In June 2024, during a special address on climate action, the UN Secretary General declared: “The truth is the battle for 1.5 degrees will be won or lost in the 2020s under the watch of leaders today. All depends on the decisions those leaders take—or fail to take—especially in the next eighteen months.” Yet, here in Georgia, the majority of our state leaders are ignoring the climate emergency. Most never or rarely speak about it publicly. This inaction is a stunning abdication of their responsibility to protect citizens and respond to their concerns. Recent surveys reveal that a majority of Georgians are worried about the climate crisis and want their elected officials to take meaningful action. Our five elected Georgia Public Service Commissioners (PSC) hold significant power over Georgia’s energy future. Georgia Power is the monopoly electricity service provider for much of Georgia. Every three years, the company is required to present its energy sourcing plan during an Integrated Resource Planning (IRP) process, a quasi-judicial review overseen by the PSC. The Commissioners have the authority to accept, deny or modify any part of that plan. They have the power right now to require Georgia Power to make a rapid transition to clean energy, to strengthen energy efficiency programs, and to reduce their company’s reliance on fossil fuels. Unfortunately, the Commissioners have historically rubber-stamped almost all of Georgia Power’s requests, even those which increase their use of fossil fuels to generate electricity, despite mounting resistance from citizens and environmental groups. A key part of the Georgia PSC’s mission is to ensure "safe, reliable, and affordable electricity." While they have upheld reliability, their record on safety and affordability is deeply flawed. All scientific evidence shows that there is nothing safe or affordable about continuing to pump greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Climate-related disasters and rising heat is costing Georgians billions, but the Commissioners have never held Georgia Power accountable for the climate impacts of burning fossil fuels. Instead, they allow Georgia Power to present sourcing plans that don’t consider climate impacts, forcing ordinary Georgians—and people around the world—to bear the financial and environmental consequences as they continue to make huge profits as they add significant amounts of greenhouse gases to our atmosphere. Commissioners also continue to ignore the fact that renewable energy sources like solar and wind are now often cost-competitive or cheaper than fossil fuels, even when climate impacts are not considered. Transitioning to renewables is the obvious economic and environmental choice for Georgia. The Georgia Legislature also has significant opportunities—and responsibilities—to address the climate crisis. However, they have yet to rise to the challenge. Here are some critical actions they should take: --Adopt a State Clean Energy Plan in Line with International Targets Georgia lags behind other states in creating a comprehensive clean energy plan. As a result of this, they have missed out on federal funding opportunities under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). --Reinstate the Georgia Consumer Utility Counsel Most states have this body, which advocates for residential and small business ratepayers in utility rate cases. Georgia had one from the 1970s till 2008 when it was shut down during a budget crisis caused by a major recession. --Improve Climate Science Standards in K–12 Education Georgia is one of only six states to receive an F for its climate science education standards. Strengthening these standards is essential for preparing future generations to understand and address the climate crisis. --Establish Clean Energy Standards for Georgia Power Passing legislation to set clean energy benchmarks would hold Georgia Power accountable and accelerate the state’s transition to renewable energy. --Ban Campaign Donations to PSC Commissioners Georgia Power and its lawyers should not be allowed to influence PSC elections through campaign donations. Such contributions undermine public trust and create conflicts of interest. Georgia Power and Southern Company continue to mislead the public with greenwashed narratives about their energy transition while doubling down on fossil fuels. Meanwhile, Georgia’s elected officials allow this to happen, ignoring the overwhelming scientific evidence and the desires of their citizens. This inaction by Georgia’s leaders is not just a failure of policy but a moral failure to protect their constituents from the escalating dangers of climate change. If Georgia’s leaders continue to deny and ignore the urgency of the climate crisis, they will leave a legacy of destruction, missed opportunities, and unnecessary suffering. It is not too late to act, but time is running out. The decisions made today will determine the future for generations to come. The question is: will Georgia’s leaders rise to the occasion—or will they continue to fail us? Sources: 1. https://www.wabe.org/georgia-is-making-its-first-ever-climate-change-plan/?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiAst67BhCEARIsAKKdWOnFclPBtBkxP-zChDxBzqhBSw22ZgtUpuWUJU9lOq7uGjRuqKjfvMgaAjgpEALw_wcB 2.https://iac.gatech.edu/news/item/655636/nearly-thirds-georgians-support-immediate-action-climate-survey-shows