It’s no news that the recently concluded COP-26 climate summit was a disappointment for those who hoped it would be a game-changer against the climate crisis. (This analysisgives a few reasons why the outcome will do little to stop climate change, no matter what world leaders may say.)
However disappointed we may be, it’s obviously far too early to give up on the hopes and futures of those younger than we are. And as 350.org says of the Glasgow summit, true leadership on this issue comes from those of us trying to make a change, not from governments beholden to the fossil fuel industry.
That leadership was visible on the streets of Glasgow, much of it from the young and those whose nations face the worst from climate change. A local brand of it was also visible at the County Courthouse in Eureka on Saturday, November 6, when around 100 people joined the Day of Climate Justice rally seeking a strong COP-26. 350 Humboldt thanks co-sponsors Cooperation Humboldt, Temple Beth-El, and the Climate Action Campaign of the Humboldt Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, as well as all who made signs, spoke, or just attended. Check out this video of high school student Alex Riggs speaking at the rally (thanks to Hayley Connors-Keith for sharing the video) and the photos in this News Flash! (thanks to Dana Utman).
So while we keep pushing for national and global action, let’s also focus on a few things we can do closer to home.
Email Humboldt County planners by December 1 about the North McKay Ranch development, proposed to be built south of Eureka. This car-intensive example of suburban sprawl is back for review after planners realized they hadn’t followed state law when they previously found its transportation-related climate impacts were minimal. In fact, the project will cause much more driving — ask county planners to require more bicycle and transit use, traffic calming, and require the project to manage its transportation demand. (Send your comments to [email protected].
Contact the Humboldt County Association of Governments (HCOAG) to support the draft Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) — and ensure that the RTP applies to roads actually being built! The plan’s Safe and Sustainable Transportation goals include getting us out of cars and onto bikes and buses, good for both the climate and our health. Thank them for those goals, but also ask that the actual projects envisioned in the RTP be evaluated to see if they will, in fact, achieve them. (Contact the Coalition for Responsible Transportation Priorities for more information on this and the above item.)
Sign an online petition asking CalPERS and CalSTRS to divest from their huge portfolios of fossil fuel projects. It’s outrageous that retired public employees are supported, whether they like it our not, by projects that are destroying the planet!
We hope to see you at the 350 Humboldt General Meeting tomorrow, November 18, at 6:00 p.m. Click here for the Zoom link.
Thanks for all you do for the climate!
Pat Carr for 350 Humboldt