HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022 Climate Awareness YearCOLUMBIA HEIGHTS
PROCLAMATION
Climate Awareness Year: 2022
WHEREAS, Columbia Heights, MN has just this past year experienced numerous climate
change related impacts including a record June heatwave, dangerous air quality from drought -
fueled forest fires where even healthy people were encouraged to remain inside, and water
restrictions from the same drought, making it clear that the climate crisis is not only a future
issue — it is affecting us here and now; and
WHEREAS, the greatest burden from an inadequate response to the climate crisis will be felt by
historically marginalized or underserved communities as well as the youngest generation,
including the children and grandchildren of Columbia Heights; and
WHEREAS, in Minnesota, the ten warmest and wettest years ever recorded have all occurred
since 1998, warming surface waters are leading to a significant loss of fish habitat for many
prominent species as well as increasing the risk of harmful algae blooms, forests are changing as
native northern species are strained by warming temperatures, crops are stressed by cycles of
drought and floods, home insurance rates are rising far faster than the national average from an
average of $368 in 1998 to $1348 in 2015, and faster warming winters are leading to new pests as
well as shorter winter recreation seasons; and
WHEREAS, the bi-partisan Next Generation Energy Act, passed by the Minnesota State
Legislature and signed by then Governor Tim Pawlenty in 2007, committed our State to
achieving an 80% reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2050 and with interim goals
of 15% and 30% below 2005 GHG emissions levels by 2015 and 2025, respectively, with cities
being key drivers of achieving these goals; and
WHEREAS, our State did not meet its 2015 goal, and is not yet on track to reach our future
targets; and
WHEREAS, in April 2016 world leaders from 175 countries, including the United States,
recognized the threat of climate change and the urgent need to combat it by signing the Paris
Agreement, agreeing to "pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius;
and
WHEREAS, we have already reached a temperature increase of nearly 1.1 degrees Celsius
(nearly 2 degrees Fahrenheit) as compared to pre -industrial times and the death and destruction
already wrought by this level of global warming demonstrate that the Earth is already too hot
for safety and justice, as attested by increased and intensifying wildfires, floods, rising seas,
diseases, droughts, and extreme weather; and
WHEREAS, recent scientific research indicates that to achieve the goal of limiting temperature
increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius, carbon emissions must be halved by 2030 and reach net -zero
global emissions by 2050; and
WHEREAS, 2,012 jurisdictions in 34 countries including Minnesota leaders in Crystal Bay,
Duluth, Eden Prairie, Edina, Golden Valley, Grand Marais, Grand Rapids, Lauderdale,
Maplewood, Minneapolis, Moorhead, Northfield, Red Wing, Robbinsdale, Rochester, and St.
Louis Park have already declared climate emergencies in order to focus attention on the need
for rapid action to address climate change; and
WHEREAS, the city of Columbia Heights is currently mitigating climate change through the
sustainable actions of our Public Works department and several volunteer organizations. Most
notably, we work to keep items out of landfills and find ways to use energy wisely. We have
solar panels on multiple municipal buildings. Our community service groups organize street
cleanups and volunteer at the city recycling center. Items such as batteries, fluorescent
lightbulbs, stringed lights, rigid Styrofoam, and cardboard are received for free. Our city
participates in the TREX program to recycle plastic bags in exchange for park benches. We have
organic curbside pickup to turn our yard and kitchen food scraps into compost, which greatly
reduces methane gas emissions due to food waste in landfills. We are building awareness
throughout our city and are ready to do more to combat climate change;
NOW, THEREFORE, be it resolved that I, Amdda Marquez Simula, Mayor of Columbia
Heights, and in partnership with leaders across out state, do hereby proclaim 2022 as Climate
Emergency Awareness Year in the City of Columbia Heights, County of Anoka, State of
Minnesota, U.S.A
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Am6da Marquez Simula, Mayor
January 24, 2022