Sierra Club Sonoma Group jumped into the action this summer to encourage mayors within the county to sign on to clean energy agreements to help mitigate climate change. Activists have been discussing the issue with city leaders for months, but urgency grew after President Trump took the United States out of the Paris Agreement on May 31.
Following the White House’s shortsighted announcement, Sierra Club and other groups launched targeted campaigns for mayors to pledge their commitment to transition their cities to 100 percent clean energy and reduce carbon emissions.
To date, almost 300 mayors from across the country have signed on to the Climate Mayors campaign, which calls on cities to enact emissions-reduction programs and off-sets.
The Sierra Club’s Mayors for 100 percent Clean Energy campaign, part of its Ready for 100 campaign, has collected signatures from 98 mayors whose cities have adopted goals to transition to 100 percent renewable energy community-wide by 2035.
To date, mayors from Healdsburg, Santa Rosa and Windsor have signed on with Climate Mayors. Sonoma Group climate activists will continue to press other municipal leaders to sign-on to the various climate campaigns throughout the summer.
In a statement released June 9, the Climate Mayors said:
“We will continue to lead. We are increasing investments in renewable energy and energy efficiency. We will buy and create more demand for electric cars and trucks. We will increase our efforts to cut greenhouse gas emissions, create a clean energy economy, and stand for environmental justice. And if the President wants to break the promises made to our allies enshrined in the historic Paris Agreement, we’ll build and strengthen relationships around the world to protect the planet from devastating climate risks.
“The world cannot wait — and neither will we.”
To get involved in Sonoma Group’s local climate action group, contact: Tom Conlon at editor@transitionsonomavalley.org
Learn more about the Climate Mayors campaign.
Learn more about Sierra Club’s Mayors for 100 percent Clean Energy campaign.