News Release
October 31, 2017
Contact: Sandy Bahr, Sierra Club, sandy.bahr@sierraclub.org, 602-999-5790
Climate Change is Scary, the Solutions are Not!
Arizona Businesses, Faith Leaders, Public Health and Environmental Advocates, and Elected Officials Gather on Halloween to Urge Governor Ducey to Commit to Action on Climate Change
Phoenix, AZ –Today, Halloween, Arizona businesses, faith communities, legislators, conservationists, and individuals gathered at the Capitol to tell Governor Ducey that while the impacts of climate change for Arizona are scary, the solutions are not. Advocates delivered a letter to the Governor, asking him to join them and other leaders in committing to reduce Arizona’s carbon emissions and to develop an action plan for doing so.
“Responding to climate change responsibly will mean more jobs, cleaner air and ultimately cheaper energy,” said Representative Ken Clark, Legislative District 24. “That is not a scary future, in my mind.”
The United States signed the Paris Climate Agreement in 2016, pledging to reduce carbon emissions 26–28 percent from 2005 levels by 2025. Earlier this year, the Trump administration announced its plans to withdraw from the agreement. Since then, more than 2,300 leaders from state and local government, businesses, and college campuses have signed on to the We Are Still In declaration to meet the U.S. emissions reduction commitment.
“I am pleased to join the growing list of business leaders and real estate developers in Arizona and throughout the country to make a strong commitment and to make it clear that ‘We Are Still In’ to reduce emissions to address climate change,” said Vance Marshall with VJ Properties, Inc. “We spend millions of dollars making our buildings more energy efficient. We do not want that effort belittled. Today, I am also joining thousands of Arizonans in asking Governor Ducey to step up and take action to help Arizona do its part to address climate change.”
“Climate change is with us here and now in Arizona. We see it in the rise of heat-related deaths and disease, in water shortages and crop failures. And it’s affecting the poor and the vulnerable, the children and the elderly the most,” said Sarah King with Earth Care, Arizona Faith Network. “As people of faith we are called to act on behalf of those who have no voice and no choice. We call upon the Governor to act now, with force and purpose, to protect ALL Arizonans by committing to the principles of the Paris accords.”
“Climate change is, at its core, a moral issue. It is the greatest human-induced crisis facing our world today as it literally threatens all life on Earth,” said Sally Rings with Arizona Interfaith Power and Light. “Therefore, all people have a moral responsibility to address it, to act out of caring for this most amazing planet, loving our neighbor, including those most vulnerable to climate disruption, and assuring that our children have a healthy future. We of Arizona Interfaith Power and Light call on Governor Ducey to do the right thing by taking concrete steps in Arizona to mitigate climate disruption.”
In addition to the message from the many individuals who spoke at the Capitol, a letter that was signed by more than 2,000 Arizonans was also delivered to the Governor.
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