By Carol Adams-Davis
September 20th climate actions made up the largest global climate change action mobilization in history. September 20th was three days before the United Nations Climate Action Summit, which declares: “Climate change is the defining issue of our time and now is the defining moment to do something about it. There is still time to tackle climate change, but it will require an unprecedented effort from all sectors of society.”
The Rise for Climate Mobile Bay event in Bienville Square in Downtown Mobile, Alabama, drew crowds throughout the day. There were over 40 speakers focusing on the real and expected impacts of climate change and the local issues that all coastal residents will face as climate change worsens. Local barriers to switching from fossil fuels to cleaner renewable energy resources were identified. Inspirational and knowledgeable speakers continued throughout the event from the bandstand in the Square.
Sierra Club, Beyond Coal, Sierra Club Mobile Bay Group, 350.org, Mobile Baykeeper, Alabama Coastal Foundation, MEJAC, Healthy Gulf, Alabama Rivers Alliance, Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant, Coalition for the Life Sciences, GASP, Dogwood Alliance, Success 4 the Future, Southern Environmental Law Center, NAACP, University of South Alabama, Spring Hill College Environmental Sustainability, USA Green Jags, South Coast Engineers, Mobile County Health Department, ARC, Open Table, League of Women Voters, and Citizens Climate Lobby were some of the participating organizations.
Exhibitors featured their organization’s support for common-sense climate change solutions in coastal communities. Alabama, Mississippi, and Florida residents sought inspiration and information about what can be done locally to prepare our coastal communities for the impacts of climate change and how to transition our states off of fossil fuels into renewable energy resources, while producing a sustainable positive-growth economy.
‘Rise For Climate Mobile Bay’ was coordinated by Sierra Club Mobile Bay Group & MEJAC (Mobile Environmental Justice Action Coalition). The event was nonpartisan and did not affiliate with any political party.