OAKLAND HAS an amazing opportunity to be a worldwide leader in equitable climate action.
With
crucial international climate talks in Copenhagen set for December, the
Oakland Climate Action Coalition is showing how strong climate policy
can build a safe, economically vibrant, and socially just city.
In
our everyday lives, we are already feeling the impacts of climate
change and our dangerous dependence on fossil fuels. Gasoline and
utility bills continue to rise with no end in sight. Turbulent and
unpredictable weather patterns threaten valuable food crops, raising
prices at the grocery store.
Meanwhile, polluting industries
cause children in East and West Oakland to suffer from asthma at twice
the rate of the Alameda County average. Everyone, rich and poor, will
bear the impacts of the climate crisis, but the disturbing reality is
that those who are least responsible for the climate crisis are being
hit first and worst.
So what is Oakland doing? It turns out
that city officials are crafting a plan — called the Energy and Climate
Action Plan — that will go to the City Council in 2010. This plan could
make Oakland a model city in the fight against global warming in ways
that benefit all people.
But will it? Will Oakland's plan be a
strong or weak one? Will it supercharge the green economy and provide
much-needed jobs, or green wash the city and continue to pour our
precious tax dollars into growth and development at any
cost? Will the plan protect and uplift vulnerable communities, or leave
people to drown, figuratively if not literally?
With this in
mind, leaders throughout Oakland have organized a vibrant alliance
called the Oakland Climate Action Coalition to fight for a strong and
workable plan. Hundreds of people and dozens of impressive
organizations are involved.
Parents and youth, scientists and
teachers, trade unionists and environmentalists, community leaders and
business owners are taking action. Together, we have spent months
crafting dozens of detailed policy proposals that can make Oakland a
model green city.
We are advocating for real, equitable
solutions to become law. We're fighting for an Oakland with a thriving
green economy that runs on clean, local energy; an Oakland that creates
quality jobs; and an Oakland that protects and uplifts both our people
and our planet.
Together, we can pass and implement real climate
solutions that divert resources away from criminalization and
detention, and instead focus on creating opportunities by investing in
public transportation, efficient energy and water use, reuse and
recycling of materials and urban agriculture in a way that puts our
most precious and valuable resources to work — our people.
Oakland
can lead the Bay Area and the nation in building a green and equitable
society. You can join us. The Oakland Climate Action Coalition hosted a
free Community Convergence for Climate Action earlier this month where
hundreds of Oakland community members celebrated local climate
solutions crafted by diverse allies, enjoyed free food and were
inspired by performances from local artists, including live green
hip-hop and a theatrical performance on climate by high school-aged
youth. This convergence is just the beginning.
In the coming
months, the Oakland Climate Action Coalition will be pushing for the
City Council to adopt and implement these landmark climate goals. Join
us in making this vision of safe, economically sound and socially just
city a reality.
For more information, visit www.ellabakercenter.org
