Take Action - Declare a Climate Emergency

There will be a public hearing for a resolution declaring a climate emergency, committing to policies opposing fossil fuel expansion and accelerating the clean energy transition, and endorsing the call for a global fossil fuel non-proliferation treaty. 

The City of La Crosse Climate Action Plan Steering Committee has recommended adoption of this resolution.

Please speak up to support this resolution at the Judiciary and Administration Committee Meeting on Tuesday, May 31 at 6:00 p.m. 

If you attend in person (City Hall Eagle Room - Council Chambers), you will be able to register to speak in favor of the resolution or just register in favor but not speak. You may also attend virtually using the link shown below, BUT you will only be able to "speak" by typing comments in the chat which may or may not be seen by all committee members.

Whether or not you attend, please email comments in support of the resolution to cityclerk@cityoflacrosse.org and cc: zzcouncilmembers@cityoflacrosse.org. You may also deliver comments to the City Clerk by using the drop box outside of City Hall or by mail: City Clerk, 400 La Crosse Street, La Crosse WI 54601

Streaming Link: https://stream.lifesizecloud.com/extension/1271327/e7506959-fe5d-44ac-805c-9016fb33bd90

RESOLUTION

Resolution declaring a climate emergency, committing to policies opposing fossil fuel expansion and accelerating the clean energy transition, and endorsing the call for a global fossil fuel non-proliferation treaty. 

WHEREAS, the city of La Crosse is impacted by the health and safety risks of fossil fuel expansion, and particularly citizens who face socioeconomic and health inequities, including youth, elders, Indigenous people, people of color, low-income people, those experiencing mental and physical disabilities, those experiencing homelessness, and people with health conditions; and 

WHEREAS, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Sixth Assessment Report  warns that the continued installation of unabated fossil fuel infrastructure will ‘lock-in’ GHG emissions; and

WHEREAS, the construction of new fossil fuel infrastructure and expanded reliance on fossil fuels exposes communities to untenable risks to the public’s health and safety at the local and global levels; and 

WHEREAS, the economic opportunities presented by a clean energy transition far outweigh the opportunities presented by an economy supported by expanding fossil fuel use and extraction; and 

WHEREAS, our community is committed to a just energy transition and to appropriate investments that offset the impacts of evolving industries and employment as well as ambitious investments in the green infrastructure and industries that will create jobs, decarbonize our economy, and reduce future climate change; 

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the City of La Crosse Common Council declares that a climate and ecological emergency threatens our city, citizens, and environs; 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City of La Crosse Common Council opposes the rollback of climate policy and affirms its ongoing commitment to carbon neutrality by 2050; and 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City of La Crosse Common Council endorses the call for a global Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty that will end new fossil fuel exploration and expansion, phase out existing production in line with the global commitment to limit warming to  1.5°C, and accelerate equitable transition plans; and 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED the City of La Crosse Common Council intends to implement policies limiting or preventing fossil fuel expansion and promoting electrification because of the inherent dangers to the public’s health and safety in extraction, transport, storage, and combustion of fossil fuels; and 

BE IT FUTHER RESOLVED that the Environmental Planner is requested to explore and develop policy recommendations in keeping with our local law-making power that limit fossil fuel infrastructure expansion and promote electrification and a clean energy future in order to protect public health and safety.

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The EPA's biggest union is asking the Biden administration to declare a climate emergency as promised initiatives have withered away under the Republican and some Democrats' obstruction. The lack of urgency by this administration has led several groups to demand more resources for climate programs. Commentators have noted the disparity in war spending vs climate action in recent budgets. David Wallace-Wells recently counted the true, tragic cost of climate inaction.

Climate scientist and activist Peter Kalmus has come to the conclusion that, "It’s up to the leaders of the world to stand up to [the fossil fuel industry] and to say: 'A livable planet is more important than your profits. We are not going to allow this process of delay to continue.' What worries me is that, in this critical year between Cop26 and Cop27, every signal that we’re getting from world leaders is that fossil fuels will continue to expand.

"President Biden is begging OPEC to expand production. He’s opening new lands for drilling in the Gulf of Mexico and public lands of the US. Right now, what I’m seeing from world leaders, including Biden, is that they’re using the bully pulpit of their position to urge the expansion of fossil fuels. They’ve completely stopped talking about taking climate action."

We can take action. We can demand action. Declare a climate emergency.