As we join Climate Marches and watch as protections for the climate and environment are rolled back, here are some links with good ideas and information on how to use the new LWVC Climate Action Policy.
National
Toolkit for Climate Action – grassroots action, lobbying, resources
click here
Price on Carbon -explanations, where it’s working, state actions, https://priceoncarbon.org
State
League of Women Voters of California Climate Action
https://lwvc.org/issues/climate-change
Local
League of Women Voters -Berkeley, Albany, Emeryville Climate Change Team
Join our Climate Team–Meets third Tuesday of every month, 7:30-9:00 pm
League Office, 2530 San Pablo, Suite F, Berkeley
Print a Handout: Climate Change Handout 4-2017
The Policy is stated below:
On March 29, the Board of the League of Women Voters of California adopted an action policy specifically on climate change. Although the LWV-California and LWV-US positions already support action to mitigate and adapt to climate change, the new action policy will help guide local Leagues and ILOs in determining appropriate actions. The new action policy states:
The League of Women Voters of California supports actions to mitigate and adapt to climate change in order to protect our state from the negative physical, economic, and public health effects. Local Leagues and ILOs are urged to engage at their local and regional levels. Our actions are to:
Promote energy conservation and efficiency in transportation, buildings, and infrastructure, including energy efficiency standards and land use policies that reduce vehicle miles travelled.
Promote carbon pricing by market mechanisms such as cap and trade systems and carbon taxes.
Promote a clean, low-carbon energy economy that is sustainable, including all forms of renewable energy and transportation infrastructure.
Promote policies that mitigate impacts of climate change by adaptation in urban, rural, agricultural, and natural settings.
Promote basic research and technology development, encouraging the use of a portfolio of technologies.
Promote solutions that ease consequences of climate-related hardships to low and moderate income households.
Promote public access and involvement in the decision-making process.
A workshop: “Climate Change: Taking it Local” will be held at the state Convention in June to review and discuss the new action policy. Dr. Diz Swift, the Climate Change Program Director for LWVC will lead the workshop with participation of Leagues from across the state.
The League of Women Voters has been at the forefront of the environmental protection movement for decades, consistently supporting legislation to preserve our nation’s natural resources and protect our public health and safety. We support legislation that seeks to protect our country from the physical, economic and public health effects of climate change while also providing pathways to economic prosperity. Global climate change is the greatest environmental challenge of our generation.
The LWVUS, in response to the growing concern about climate change and its impact on the environment, created a Climate Change Task Force in 2006 to provide information and assistance to the national board and staff and to develop materials for use by League members at the local, state and national levels. The task force developed and maintains a Climate Change Toolkit.
The U.S. League’s position is to preserve the physical, chemical, and biological integrity of the ecosystem, with maximum protection of public health and the environment. Climate change is, by far, the greatest challenge to the balance of our ecosystem.
Further, greenhouse gases are a pollutant. In a 5-4 decision in April 2007, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases meet the definition of “air pollutants” under the Clean Air Act of 1970.
California plays an important role in the climate change discussion, and what this state does is crucial. California produces seven percent of U.S. greenhouse gases (GHG) and is in 18th place in global emissions of GHG among countries (2013).
California is also playing a leadership role in reducing emissions, and regions within the state and local communities are taking steps to minimize the impacts of climate change by adoption of Climate Action Plans, Regional Climate Plans, and Sustainability Strategies, addressing sea level rise, and creating Adaption and Resiliency (Readiness) Plans.
Along with national League positions, LWVC positions on Air Quality, Energy, Land Use, and Transportation and the Growth Management and Sustainable Communities Action Policies all work together to support action. See the Climate Change issue page on the LWVC website for more information.
This LWVC Climate Change Action Policy is designed for use by California state and local Leagues and Inter-League Organizations (ILOs) to guide specific action and education at their respective levels.
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