California is experiencing the devastating impacts of a changing climate every day. Residents up and down the state worry about the next wildfire as they anxiously breathe hazardous smoke, see the growing number of extreme heat waves, watch as sea level rise encroaches on the coasts, comfort neighbors as floods devastate homes and carefully meter out water during times of drought — all the while trying to help the most vulnerable community members.

Scientists in California and in the federal government have verified what Californians already know firsthand: If we don’t take swift and bold action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the heat waves, sea level rise, flooding, drought, and wildfires will only increase in frequency and severity.

In the next four weeks, the U.S. Congress has an opportunity to take a big step to expand clean energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. And House Speaker Nancy Pelosi should do everything within her power to continue fighting for Californians and make sure that critical clean energy incentives get enacted before the clock runs out.

As much as Californians joke about the state being its own nation, California is not alone in the world. Experts agree that we must work urgently to limit average global temperature rise to no more than 1.5 degrees Celsius in order to stave off the worst impacts of the climate crisis.

In order to achieve this, all sectors of the national and global economy must reach net-zero-carbon emissions by 2050.

Thankfully, California policymakers are showing bold leadership and heeding this call to action. They have instituted a price on carbon, set a goal to source 100% electricity from zero-carbon sources by 2045, and established the highest clean car standards in the country — and now state leaders are fighting the Trump administration tooth and nail to ensure those standards remain in place.

California companies are also leading the way when it comes to climate action. Many have set ambitious goals to invest in clean energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in their own operations and supply chains. For example, Salesforce set an internal price on carbon, Clif Bar is actively working to electrify their fleet of vehicles, and Autodesk currently sources 100% renewable energy.

They also are advocating for ambitious climate policies as a part of the Ceres BICEP Network. Made up of more than 55 companies, including Adobe, Annie’s, Ebay, Fetzer Vineyards, Gap, Impossible Foods, Kaiser Permanente, KB Home, Levi Strauss & Co., LinkedIn, Sierra Nevada Brewing Co., SFO, Squaw Valley, and Symantec, the Ceres BICEP Network is pushing for climate solutions in California and states across the country, as well as in Washington.

California should be proud of its climate leadership, but we all know that California cannot tackle the climate crisis on its own. We need bold federal policies from Congress now to reduce emissions across the country. In December, before we close out 2019, Congress has a chance to follow California’s lead and take a big step to combat climate change.

U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson, D-Santa Rosa, has just put forth the GREEN Act, a comprehensive package of clean energy incentives that has the potential to be the most consequential piece of climate legislation in close to a decade.

If all, or even much, of the GREEN Act is enacted, it will significantly increase the deployment of clean energy technologies that can help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions nationwide by spurring electric vehicle adoption, scaling more wind and solar energy, encouraging innovation in energy storage, providing financing opportunities for renewable energy projects, and much more.

This clean energy incentive package will form the basis of negotiations between the House and the Senate as part of a comprehensive government spending bill that must pass by Dec. 20. As speaker of the House, Pelosi has a major role in determining priorities for the negotiations and whether clean energy solutions are included.

Speaker Pelosi, your leadership on climate change in Washington and California is unparalleled. Your home state is already feeling the impacts of climate change and California policymakers and companies are showing leadership with innovative strategies to reduce emissions and spur investments in clean energy and transportation.

We ask that you build on your legacy as a climate and clean energy champion and prioritize the critical provisions within the GREEN Act. We have no time to waste.

Anne L. Kelly is vice president of government relations at Ceres, a sustainability nonprofit organization with offices in San Francisco and Boston.

Editor’s note: An earlier version incorrectly listed the author and bill number for the GREEN ACT (an editing error, not the author’s). The author is Rep. Mike Thompson, D-Santa Rosa.