Dear Climate activist,
This coming Tuesday July 11th at 2:45 p.m. the County Board of Supervisors will consider a proposal to push back the timeline for the Climate Emergency Declaration (Resolution) from 2030 to 2045. This proposal is being made by the county staff and we have been told that it is because of their concern about being sued over the Climate Action Plan (CAP). We need to come out in force to say the Climate Emergency Response Plan and the CAP are two different documents, two different processes and they need to proceed as they were originally adopted by the county.
In 2020 the Supervisors adopted a Climate Emergency Declaration with a 2030 timeline for carbon neutrality. By setting a goal of 2030 for carbon neutrality, the County Supervisors took a stand and set an example for the region: work on climate change must happen now — this is an emergency. By moving the date to 2045, the sense of urgency is lost.
2045 is more than 20 years from now, and is placing the burden on the next generation, who are already living with the rising climate and ecological crisis which will only be harder to fix the longer we wait. The science is clear: the climate crisis is now, and we need to respond with immediate action.
The 2030 date identified in the County Climate Emergency Declaration is a stretch goal. It is not a requirement of the state; it is a voluntary commitment on our behalf. There are no legal consequences for failing to accomplish it. However, there are enormous impacts for our region and the world if we change the date to 2045. A date of 2045 means a significant reduction in the urgency to address these matters. Pushing it back sends a message of disregard for the future. These “leaders” are telling us to kick climate change down the road. If we allow this to happen:
- Work identified in the CAP can be pushed back 15 years.
- Urgent work needed to raise money to pay for the changes needed will slow down or stop.
- Resiliency Centers for our most needed citizens will be pushed back 15 years.
Please join your voice with ours to tell the County Supervisors to vote NO on this ill considered amendment to the Climate Emergency Declaration.
We will gather for a pre-meeting rally at 700 H street at 2pm on Tuesday, July 11 (the entrance across from the county parking garage). You will also be able to call in during the meeting. Ask to speak on Item 72. Email your County Supervisor by Monday at the latest:
District 1 – Supervisor Serna SupervisorSerna@saccounty.net,
District 2 – Patrick Kennedy SupervisorKennedy@saccounty.net,
District 3 – Rich Desmond richdesmond@saccounty.net,
District 4 – Sue Frost, SupervisorFrost@saccounty.net,
District 5 – Patrick Hume, PatHume@saccounty.gov
Also please Email the Clerk BoardClerk@saccounty.gov in order that your comments are part of the public record.
Tell them to stay the course! Vote NO on amending the Climate Emergency Declaration. Here is a link to a document with potential messages you can include in your emails, or to help you prepare for public comment on Tuesday.
Have more time and want to be more involved? Contact info@sacclimate.org. Please let us know if you intend to show up in person. We can help you prepare your comments, just let us know if you would like that.
Shared from Sacramento Climate Coalition and Sacramento Bicycle Advocates.
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