Los Angeles could become the next city to sue fossil fuel companies over climate change
Natasha Geiling - Jan 17, 2018 - ThinkProgress
When New York City announced last week
that it would be suing five of the world’s most powerful fossil fuel
companies for their role in creating — and perpetuating — global
warming, environmental activist Bill McKibben lauded the move as “a
major tipping point” in the movement to companies accountable for
climate change.
Now, the second largest city in the United States appears to be
following New York’s lead, exploring the potential for filing a similar
lawsuit against fossil fuel companies. On January 13 — just three days
after New York publicly announced its lawsuit — two Los Angeles city
councilmembers introduced a motion asking the City Attorney to look into
legal options against fossil fuel companies, as well as prepare an
official legal statement in support of New York City’s case.
Councilmember Mike Bonin (D), who introduced the motion along with
Councilmember Paul Koretz (D), told ThinkProgress that the inspiration
for the motion came directly from the example set by New York.
“When I saw the news about what de
Blasio was doing, it made me say, ‘Why the hell aren’t we doing this
here?’” Bonin said. “We like to think that the winds blow from the West
to the East, but occasionally, the winds come back.”
Bonin, who represents the western part of Los Angeles, including many
of the city’s coastal neighborhoods, called the potential lawsuit part
of a “multi-pronged” approach to tackling the issue of climate change
through city government. In 2016, the city council unanimously supported
a motion to transition to 100 percent renewable energy, and that the
local transportation agency has taken steps to transition its municipal
fleet of buses from diesel engines to electric. Los Angeles Mayor Eric
Garcetti (D) has pledged
to push forward with local climate action in the face of the Trump
administration’s federal agenda, which has prioritized fossil fuel
extraction over renewable energy.
"We are facing a federal government
that is engaged in — if I was going to be charitable, a dereliction of
duty, but I think it’s actually a deliberate sabotage our our planet,"
Bonin said. “It’s incumbent upon the cities to lead.”
If Los Angeles does decide to file a lawsuit against fossil fuel companies, it would join a group of seven other cities
and counties — which, save for New York, are all located in California —
seeking to hold companies similarly accountable. Six of those cases
claim damages associated with climate-fueled sea level rise, and ask
that fossil fuel companies pay into a fund to help offset the cost of
updating infrastructure to withstand rising waters. Only Santa Cruz —
which filed its lawsuit in late December — is attempting to tie the
action of fossil fuel companies to not just sea level rise, but changes
in the hydrologic cycle resulting from an increase in atmospheric
greenhouse gases — things like drought and wildfire. While it’s unclear
what route Los Angeles would take if it chooses to pursue a lawsuit,
Southern California recently witnessed the largest wildfire
in modern recorded history this December, fueled by a combination of
above-average temperatures and below-average precipitation that
scientists say is consistent with climate change. To make matters worse,
in the wake of December’s Thomas Fire, parts of Southern California
experienced heavy rain that caused the scorched soil to turn into
devastating mudslides, killing 20 people.
“It’s personal for me,” Bonin said
about climate change. “We’ve been living through a couple months of real
hell with wildfires and mudslides, and it really underscores the
importance of not just getting off of fossil fuels but taking whatever
steps we can to get there.”
Showing posts with label global warming pollution. Show all posts
Showing posts with label global warming pollution. Show all posts
Wednesday, January 24, 2018
Tuesday, November 24, 2015
COMMUNITY GATHERING: WNY Campaign for Climate Justice
Sending Our Voices to the U.N. Climate Conference in Paris
In preparation for the critical United Nations Climate Conference in Paris, the Rise Up For Climate Justice Campaign of WNY sponsored a public rally at Niagara Square in September calling on our elected officials to act in earnest to curb Climate Change:
- To protect people and all living things on our planet from the worst impacts of climate change, now and into the future, by stoping global warming pollution caused by burning fossil fuels.
- To ensure a just transition for communities and workers impacted by the shift from fossil fuels to clean energy sources.
 |
| Photo by Nathan MacFarlane |
Supporters have signed a Climate Justice Pledge. A scroll bearing the names of the pledge signers will be revealed at the Community Gathering and ceremoniously passed on to UB law students who will travel to Paris and present it to an official at the U.N. Climate Conference.
Please Join Us at the Community Gathering!
Food will be provided along with Music and Ceremony.
Families and children are welcome.
WHEN: Saturday, November 28 at 5:30pm-8:30pm
WHERE: Temple Beth Zion (auditorium), 805 Delaware Ave., Buffalo [Map]
Come show your support for our student representatives as they prepare to leave for Paris to call on U.S. leaders for bold action on climate change for a just and livable future.
The Community Gathering is registered as one of the Global Climate Events at 350.0RG. Show your support for the Global Climate Justice Movement by adding Your Name Here: act.350.org/event/global-climate-march_attend/11869
QUESTIONS? Contact niagarasierraclub@gmail.com or embodiedcosmology@gmail.com
On Nov. 30 through Dec. 11, Rise Up For Climate Justice will sponsor a community-wide vigil for the duration of the U.N. Climate Summit.
WHO ARE WE: The Rise Up For Climate Justice campaign comprises diverse groups of Western New Yorkers including people of different faiths, students, people of color, teachers, indigenous people, labor unions, community activists, environmentalists, artists, performers and local politicians. The campaign is open to all people
Tuesday, October 20, 2015
Call on Obama for Bold Action at UN Climate Talks in Paris
The RISE UP FOR CLIMATE JUSTICE campaign needs YOUR Help
A diverse group of people in Western New York are involved in a campaign for climate action and justice. Recently, over 300 citizens rallied in support of the campaign in Buffalo.
Now, we want to draw attention to President Obama who will play a major role in the outcome of the United Nations Climate Conference in Paris.
With your help, we want to send out huge numbers of a message using social media. In the message, we call on President Obama for bold cuts in greenhouse gas emissions at the UN Paris Talks to protect people and the planet.
You can view our message in context by clicking on this link http://thndr.me/3mTlLv. To support the message, simply click the Facebook or Twitter button and agree to support.
That's it. Done. Easy!
With your support, our message will be greatly amplified. Also, the message from every supporter will be released at the same time through the Thunderclap website, creating a virtual 'thunderclap' on social media.
The release is scheduled for 1:00 pm on Friday, October 23, the day before United Nations Day. Check for the 'thunderclap' on Facebook or Twitter after 1:00 pm on Friday.
Please help us do this. Thanks!
The Rise Up for Climate Justice Campaign
Wednesday, September 30, 2015
Pope Francis inspires Local Citizens to Act on Climate
By David Kowalski
Last Thursday, Pope Francis spoke to Congress and reminded the members about his Encyclical on man-made climate change. "I call for a courageous and responsible effort to 'redirect our steps' and to avert the most serious effects of the environmental deterioration caused by human activity," Francis said.
It is the consensus of climate scientists that human activity is to blame. Primarily due to burning fossil fuels in industrialized countries, the atmosphere is rapidly accumulating levels of greenhouse gases far exceeding those observed over the past 800,000 years.
Consequently, the planet is experiencing a record-breaking warming trend, causing ice at the poles and glaciers to melt, sea-levels to rise and deadly heat waves. Severe droughts and uncontrollable wildfires are occurring in some locations, while unprecedented floods are happening in others.
On the same day that Francis spoke to Congress, citizens gathered at Niagara Square in Buffalo for a rally: Rise Up for Climate Justice! People from all walks of life participated: Faith leaders, community activists, students, teachers, indigenous people, environmentalists, performers, union leaders and local politicians.
The rally is the beginning of a citizen campaign leading up to the UN Climate Change Conference at the end of the year. Government leaders from around the world will meet and aim to arrive at a universal, legally-binding agreement to address the problems of global warming and climate change.
Paris will be the site of the 21st of such conferences. In the past, most governments, including our own, have failed to come to a binding agreement. Consequently, the problems have worsened and become more harmful to humans and more difficult and expensive to solve.
We can no longer delay. This is a crisis and governments must agree on global solutions now!
And so we rallied in Buffalo to call attention to the environmental pollution and the climate crisis impacting the lives and well-being of humans here and around the globe.
We rallied to call attention to the injustices of the crisis. Poor, undeveloped countries, least responsible for the pollution problem, remain susceptible to the impacts but lack the resources to adapt. Furthermore, our own children and future generations will inherit the consequences of the pollution problems that human activity is creating now.
We rallied for practical solutions to the crisis, including:
We need strong leaders to rise up to the challenges of the crisis and to realize the benefits and opportunities that will result from solving the crisis.
We need to remind our elected officials that there is a climate crisis and that they need to recognize it and take action. Finally, we need to elect strong leaders who are not beholden to the polluting industries responsible for the crisis.
For more information and photos of the Rally for Climate Justice, click here.
Last Thursday, Pope Francis spoke to Congress and reminded the members about his Encyclical on man-made climate change. "I call for a courageous and responsible effort to 'redirect our steps' and to avert the most serious effects of the environmental deterioration caused by human activity," Francis said.
It is the consensus of climate scientists that human activity is to blame. Primarily due to burning fossil fuels in industrialized countries, the atmosphere is rapidly accumulating levels of greenhouse gases far exceeding those observed over the past 800,000 years.
Consequently, the planet is experiencing a record-breaking warming trend, causing ice at the poles and glaciers to melt, sea-levels to rise and deadly heat waves. Severe droughts and uncontrollable wildfires are occurring in some locations, while unprecedented floods are happening in others.
On the same day that Francis spoke to Congress, citizens gathered at Niagara Square in Buffalo for a rally: Rise Up for Climate Justice! People from all walks of life participated: Faith leaders, community activists, students, teachers, indigenous people, environmentalists, performers, union leaders and local politicians.
The rally is the beginning of a citizen campaign leading up to the UN Climate Change Conference at the end of the year. Government leaders from around the world will meet and aim to arrive at a universal, legally-binding agreement to address the problems of global warming and climate change.
Paris will be the site of the 21st of such conferences. In the past, most governments, including our own, have failed to come to a binding agreement. Consequently, the problems have worsened and become more harmful to humans and more difficult and expensive to solve.
We can no longer delay. This is a crisis and governments must agree on global solutions now!
And so we rallied in Buffalo to call attention to the environmental pollution and the climate crisis impacting the lives and well-being of humans here and around the globe.
We rallied to call attention to the injustices of the crisis. Poor, undeveloped countries, least responsible for the pollution problem, remain susceptible to the impacts but lack the resources to adapt. Furthermore, our own children and future generations will inherit the consequences of the pollution problems that human activity is creating now.
We rallied for practical solutions to the crisis, including:
- Adopt energy efficiency measures to reduce both energy usage and global warming pollution
- End subsidies and investments for dirty fossil fuels
- Invest in clean, sustainable energy
We need strong leaders to rise up to the challenges of the crisis and to realize the benefits and opportunities that will result from solving the crisis.
We need to remind our elected officials that there is a climate crisis and that they need to recognize it and take action. Finally, we need to elect strong leaders who are not beholden to the polluting industries responsible for the crisis.
For more information and photos of the Rally for Climate Justice, click here.
Current Climate Pledges are not enough to limit Global Warming to 2 deg. C (3.6 deg. F)!
Tuesday, August 26, 2014
CLIMATE MARCH in NY CITY - Reserve Bus Seats Now!
HOP on the BUFFALO BUS to NY CITY
for the
People's Climate March
In September, world leaders are coming to New York City for a landmark UN summit
on the Climate Crisis. The UN Secretary General is urging governments
to support an ambitious global agreement to dramatically reduce Global Warming Pollution.
With our future on the line and the whole world watching, we'll take a stand for justice to bend the course of history.
On September 21st, the People's Climate March will peacefully flood the NY City streets in historic numbers to demand the world we know is within our reach:
With our future on the line and the whole world watching, we'll take a stand for justice to bend the course of history.
On September 21st, the People's Climate March will peacefully flood the NY City streets in historic numbers to demand the world we know is within our reach:
- a world with an economy that works for people and the planet
- a world safe from the ravages of climate change
- a world with good jobs, clean air and water, and healthy communities
Over 1000 groups, representing social justice, schools, different faiths,
businesses, unions and more, have signed on in support of the People's Climate March together with the Sierra Club, 350.org and other environmental groups.
Hundreds of Climate Rallies will also be held around the World!
This promises to be the Largest Climate Action Ever!
Join us on Sunday, September 21 in New York City!
Reserve a Seat on the Buffalo Bus
Area Residents & Students: Sierra Club Niagara Group and local allied groups have chartered Buses to NYC.
- Full Fare is $50 round trip
- Scholarship Fare is $25 for students and others who need support
Buffalo Buses will depart at 11:30 PM on Saturday Sept. 20 from UB South Campus on Main St. (NFTA Park & Ride parking lot) and will return around
11:30 PM on Sunday Sept. 21
or
Pay by Check
(Note: Checks for Bus Tickets not accepted after Sept. 12, 2014)
Make check out to “Sierra Club Niagara Group” (write Climate March in the notation) and mail it to: Larry Snider, 69 Burdette Dr., Cheektowaga, NY 14225. Provide your contact information including an e-mail address and phone number. Your seat(s) will be reserved when the payment is received as long as there are seats available.
Consider Sponsoring Riders: If you can not go to NYC but wish to show your support, consider sponsoring riders by making a Donation Online or by sending a Check (see address above - write Donation in the notation).
Thank you for your support!
Questions? Email niagarasierra@gmail.com
or Call 716-984-2833
For Updates, visit niagarasierraclub.com
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