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Advocating for a Green New Deal.
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WHEREAS, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s (IPCC) Sixth Assessment Report, global surface temperature has increased by 1.1℃ since the pre-industrial period, and is on track to exceed increases of 1.5℃ and 2℃ within this century, which scientists warn will have irreversible consequences unless drastic emissions reductions are achieved in the coming decades. We are already suffering adverse impacts of the climate crisis on food and water availability, human health, infrastructure, biodiversity, and ecosystems, impacts which will only worsen as time goes on;
WHEREAS, the greatest and most harmful impacts of climate change are falling disproportionately on marginalized communities, exacerbating existing inequalities and injustices along racial, regional, social, and economic lines;
WHEREAS, despite the United States being the largest emitter of global greenhouse gasses since the pre-industrial period, federal action on climate change has been insufficient thus far. The federal government has facilitated record levels of fossil fuel production without holding polluting industries accountable, putting it behind schedule to reach its own stated target of net zero emissions by 2050, and failed to protect communities from climate disaster. In the absence of adequate federal action, the burden falls to state and municipal governments, like Saint Paul, to take ambitious action against climate change;
WHEREAS, the 2017 report from the Interagency Climate Adaptation Team by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency found that, due to climate change, Saint Paul will experience worse air quality, increased precipitation, extreme heat, warmer winters, and more frequent severe weather events;
WHEREAS, the City of Saint Paul has demonstrated its commitment to being a leader in addressing the climate crisis and ensuring environmental justice through a number of actions such as:
-Concrete policy actions such as eliminating parking minimums, co-leading the Evie electric car share program, expanding the city’s bike network, implementing renewable, geothermal energy systems in city buildings, and leading the redevelopment project at the Heights with the potential to create a Net Zero community;
-The 2019 adoption of Climate Action and Resiliency Plan (CARP) with the stated goals of carbon neutrality in city operations by 2030, a 50% reduction in citywide carbon emissions by 2030, and citywide carbon neutrality by 2050, while acknowledging that the City’s current actions are not enough to meet these goals;
-A number of City Council resolutions, including urging Congress to pass legislation placing a fee on fossil fuels, committing to protect the city’s youth and future generations from climate destruction, opposing new fossil fuel infrastructure, establishing the Climate Justice Advisory Board (CJAB), and declaring a climate emergency;
WHEREAS, the Green New Deal is a broad vision for a societal and economic transformation at the speed and scale necessary to adequately respond to the climate crisis, ensure a just transition, and address rampant racial and economic inequality. This vision, which establishes the government’s responsibility to tackle the climate crisis, is embodied by H.Res 319 and S.Res.173 which outlines goals including:
-“to achieve the greenhouse gas and toxic emissions reductions needed to stay under 1.5 degrees Celsius of warming, through a fair and just transition for all communities and workers;”
-“to create millions of good, high-wage union jobs and encourage collective bargaining agreements to ensure prosperity and economic security for all people of the United States;”
-“to invest in the infrastructure and industry of the United States to sustainably meet the challenges of the 21st century;”
-“to secure for all people of the United States for generations to come- (i) clean air and water; (ii) climate and community resiliency; (iii) healthy food; (iv) access to nature; and (v) a sustainable environment; and”
-“to promote justice and equity by stopping current, preventing future, and repairing historic oppression of indigenous peoples, communities of color, migrant communities, deindustrialized communities, depopulated rural communities, the poor, low-income workers, women, the elderly, the unhoused, people with disabilities, and youth;”
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED; the City of Saint Paul will align its policies, including the CARP renewal and 2050 Comprehensive Plan, with the Green New Deal’s values. Aligning city policies with the Green New Deal through both major and minor actions requires a transformative vision, urgency, radical action, an unwavering commitment to environmental justice, and a rejection of fossil fuels and harmful extraction.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED; the Saint Paul City Council declares its intent to allocate the future proceeds of franchise fees towards making Saint Paul a more climate resilient city.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED; the Saint Paul City Council urges its Congressional and Senatorial Representatives to pass H.Res 319 and S.Res.173, “A resolution recognizing the duty of the Federal Government to create a Green New Deal” and to reintroduce and pass H.Res 2644, introduced in 2021, “To provide direct funding to local, Tribal, and territorial governments to establish Green New Deal programs and initiatives, and for other purposes.”
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED; the city clerk sends copies of this resolution to United States Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith and United States Representative Betty McCollum.