Photo credit: Jonathan Singer
Greta Thunberg, the Swedish teen who has become a touchstone of the climate emergency movement, said recently: “For way too long, the politicians and the people in power have gotten away with not doing anything at all to fight the climate crisis and the ecological crisis. But we will make sure that they will not get away with it any longer.” On Friday, September 20, millions of people all around the globe stood up to make their voices heard in the Youth Climate Strike to demand a Green New Deal, restoration of biodiversity, environmental justice, and more. A climate strike was held in Longmont as well, with hundreds of people showing up to voice their concern about what is happening to our planet. And dozens of cities around the country, as well as members of Congress, are declaring a climate emergency. Longmont City Council will vote on whether to do the same on Tuesday, October 8th.
“...It is the intent of the City of Longmont to do everything in its power to swiftly convert to an ecologically, socially, and economically sustainable economy and to reduce community-wide carbon emissions as much and as quickly as possible; ...and that the City re-affirms its goal of supporting 100% electric energy generation by 2030 or earlier, and further directs City staff and PRPA to shorten the time period to the earliest technologically feasible date, to more adequately address the severity of the climate crisis...” (Read the full resolution below)
Come support Longmont doing our part to keep atmospheric warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius (the level at which the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change says we can minimize the more catastrophic effects of global warming), and join us on October 8th to demand that Longmont declare a Climate Emergency and take immediate and accelerated action to address the climate crisis.
Then, on Wednesday, October 9th, SRL will be hosting the Longmont Climate and Sustainability Issues Candidate Forum. If you will be voting for Longmont City Council and Mayor in November, come find out where each candidate stands on the climate and sustainability. You can submit your own questions HERE. This event is free and will be at the Longmont Public Library from 6:30 - 8:30 pm.
Join us on October 8 and 9 and let our leaders and would be leaders know that Longmont demands concrete and immediate action be taken now!
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LONGMONT, COLORADO DECLARING A CLIMATE EMERGENCY AND ESTABLISHING LONGMONT’S INTENT TO TAKE IMMEDIATE AND ACCELERATED ACTION TO ADDRESS THE CLIMATE CRISIS.
WHEREAS, climate change is an urgent unfolding crisis that presents a serious threat to human existence; and
WHEREAS, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has issued a special report on the impact of global warming and the need to reduce global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions earlier than 2030 to hold atmospheric warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius and avoid the most catastrophic impact of climate change; and
WHEREAS, in 2018, the United States’ Fourth National Climate Assessment made it clear that climate change will wreak havoc across the United States, and that the current pace and scale of climate action is not sufficient to avoid substantial damage to the economy, the environment and to human health over the coming decades; and
WHEREAS, Longmont and the rest of Colorado, already suffers from the impacts of climate change in the form of drought, air pollution, extreme heat, species stress, negative health effects, and floods, and these disasters will become more severe as global GHG emissions continue to poison the atmosphere; and
WHEREAS, climate change will increasingly make basic human necessities more expensive and difficult to obtain; and
WHEREAS, throughout the United States, frontline communities have historically borne the brunt of longstanding environmental injustice including fossil-fuel created degradation and it is acknowledged that these communities must actively participate in the planning, decision-making, and implementation of climate action and must benefit equally from a just transition to a sustainable and equitable economy; and
WHEREAS, to stay within 1.5 degrees Celsius, cities and nations throughout the world will need to significantly reduce their per capita emissions by 2030 or earlier; and
WHEREAS, restoring a safe and stable climate will require mobilization at all levels of government and society on a scale, scope, and speed not seen since World War II; and
WHEREAS, efforts to control climate change will have many benefits such as cleaner air and water, improved health, local employment, cost savings for households, businesses, and the city, and the creation of a stronger and more resilient community; and
WHEREAS, Longmont City Council took a decisive leadership role by committing to 100% renewable electricity supply by 2030 and through the Platte River Power Authority Board started our region on a mandate for conversion to renewable energy; and
WHEREAS, The Longmont Sustainability Plan, adopted in 2016, provides a road map for Longmont to achieve the vision of becoming an engaged community that promotes environmental stewardship, economic vitality, and social equity to create a sustainable and thriving future for all; and
WHEREAS, Longmont has already taken steps to lower GHG emissions by passing the 2030 renewable electricity supply resolution above. It is acknowledged that such steps are not sufficient, in and of themselves, to adequately address the magnitude of the climate emergency; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED, that the City Council of Longmont hereby declares a state of climate emergency and that the global climate crisis poses a serious, urgent and pressing threat to the well-being of Longmont, its inhabitants, economy, and environment; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that it is the intent of the City of Longmont to do everything in its power to swiftly convert to an ecologically, socially, and economically sustainable economy and to reduce community-wide carbon emissions as much and as quickly as possible; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the City re-affirms its goal of supporting 100% electric energy generation by 2030 or earlier, and further directs City staff and PRPA to shorten the time period to the earliest technologically feasible date, to more adequately address the severity of the climate crisis; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the City government must work and partner with residents, businesses, and community groups to educate our community about the climate emergency; including holding public meetings about the crisis, and must work to catalyze a just transition and climate emergency mobilization effort at the local, state, national and global levels, to provide maximum protection to our residents; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that Longmont City Council will convene a climate working group composed of City staff, other subject matter experts, partners, concerned residents, including those most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, to discuss further steps the City should take to promote a carbon-free, sustainable city, with the goal of creating and submitting a report outlining such steps within 120 days of this resolution, and quarterly thereafter, and;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the City of Longmont calls upon the State of Colorado, the United States of America, and all governments and peoples worldwide to initiate a Climate Emergency Mobilization and Just Transition effort to reverse global warming by restoring near pre-industrial global average temperatures and greenhouse gas concentrations, that halts the development of new fossil fuel infrastructure, rapidly phases out all fossil fuels and the technologies which rely upon them, transitions to regenerative agriculture, works to end the sixth mass extinction of species, creates high-quality, well-paying jobs with comprehensive benefits, mitigates the potentially adverse impacts to those who will be most impacted by this transition, and results in an equitable, inclusive and resilient community for all.
“...It is the intent of the City of Longmont to do everything in its power to swiftly convert to an ecologically, socially, and economically sustainable economy and to reduce community-wide carbon emissions as much and as quickly as possible; ...and that the City re-affirms its goal of supporting 100% electric energy generation by 2030 or earlier, and further directs City staff and PRPA to shorten the time period to the earliest technologically feasible date, to more adequately address the severity of the climate crisis...” (Read the full resolution below)
Come support Longmont doing our part to keep atmospheric warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius (the level at which the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change says we can minimize the more catastrophic effects of global warming), and join us on October 8th to demand that Longmont declare a Climate Emergency and take immediate and accelerated action to address the climate crisis.
Then, on Wednesday, October 9th, SRL will be hosting the Longmont Climate and Sustainability Issues Candidate Forum. If you will be voting for Longmont City Council and Mayor in November, come find out where each candidate stands on the climate and sustainability. You can submit your own questions HERE. This event is free and will be at the Longmont Public Library from 6:30 - 8:30 pm.
Join us on October 8 and 9 and let our leaders and would be leaders know that Longmont demands concrete and immediate action be taken now!
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LONGMONT, COLORADO DECLARING A CLIMATE EMERGENCY AND ESTABLISHING LONGMONT’S INTENT TO TAKE IMMEDIATE AND ACCELERATED ACTION TO ADDRESS THE CLIMATE CRISIS.
WHEREAS, climate change is an urgent unfolding crisis that presents a serious threat to human existence; and
WHEREAS, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has issued a special report on the impact of global warming and the need to reduce global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions earlier than 2030 to hold atmospheric warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius and avoid the most catastrophic impact of climate change; and
WHEREAS, in 2018, the United States’ Fourth National Climate Assessment made it clear that climate change will wreak havoc across the United States, and that the current pace and scale of climate action is not sufficient to avoid substantial damage to the economy, the environment and to human health over the coming decades; and
WHEREAS, Longmont and the rest of Colorado, already suffers from the impacts of climate change in the form of drought, air pollution, extreme heat, species stress, negative health effects, and floods, and these disasters will become more severe as global GHG emissions continue to poison the atmosphere; and
WHEREAS, climate change will increasingly make basic human necessities more expensive and difficult to obtain; and
WHEREAS, throughout the United States, frontline communities have historically borne the brunt of longstanding environmental injustice including fossil-fuel created degradation and it is acknowledged that these communities must actively participate in the planning, decision-making, and implementation of climate action and must benefit equally from a just transition to a sustainable and equitable economy; and
WHEREAS, to stay within 1.5 degrees Celsius, cities and nations throughout the world will need to significantly reduce their per capita emissions by 2030 or earlier; and
WHEREAS, restoring a safe and stable climate will require mobilization at all levels of government and society on a scale, scope, and speed not seen since World War II; and
WHEREAS, efforts to control climate change will have many benefits such as cleaner air and water, improved health, local employment, cost savings for households, businesses, and the city, and the creation of a stronger and more resilient community; and
WHEREAS, Longmont City Council took a decisive leadership role by committing to 100% renewable electricity supply by 2030 and through the Platte River Power Authority Board started our region on a mandate for conversion to renewable energy; and
WHEREAS, The Longmont Sustainability Plan, adopted in 2016, provides a road map for Longmont to achieve the vision of becoming an engaged community that promotes environmental stewardship, economic vitality, and social equity to create a sustainable and thriving future for all; and
WHEREAS, Longmont has already taken steps to lower GHG emissions by passing the 2030 renewable electricity supply resolution above. It is acknowledged that such steps are not sufficient, in and of themselves, to adequately address the magnitude of the climate emergency; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED, that the City Council of Longmont hereby declares a state of climate emergency and that the global climate crisis poses a serious, urgent and pressing threat to the well-being of Longmont, its inhabitants, economy, and environment; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that it is the intent of the City of Longmont to do everything in its power to swiftly convert to an ecologically, socially, and economically sustainable economy and to reduce community-wide carbon emissions as much and as quickly as possible; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the City re-affirms its goal of supporting 100% electric energy generation by 2030 or earlier, and further directs City staff and PRPA to shorten the time period to the earliest technologically feasible date, to more adequately address the severity of the climate crisis; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the City government must work and partner with residents, businesses, and community groups to educate our community about the climate emergency; including holding public meetings about the crisis, and must work to catalyze a just transition and climate emergency mobilization effort at the local, state, national and global levels, to provide maximum protection to our residents; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that Longmont City Council will convene a climate working group composed of City staff, other subject matter experts, partners, concerned residents, including those most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, to discuss further steps the City should take to promote a carbon-free, sustainable city, with the goal of creating and submitting a report outlining such steps within 120 days of this resolution, and quarterly thereafter, and;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the City of Longmont calls upon the State of Colorado, the United States of America, and all governments and peoples worldwide to initiate a Climate Emergency Mobilization and Just Transition effort to reverse global warming by restoring near pre-industrial global average temperatures and greenhouse gas concentrations, that halts the development of new fossil fuel infrastructure, rapidly phases out all fossil fuels and the technologies which rely upon them, transitions to regenerative agriculture, works to end the sixth mass extinction of species, creates high-quality, well-paying jobs with comprehensive benefits, mitigates the potentially adverse impacts to those who will be most impacted by this transition, and results in an equitable, inclusive and resilient community for all.
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