A unique bi-partisan coalition is urging President Obama to follow up his State of the Union commitment to address global climate disruption by hosting a solutions-focused national climate summit. The summit should be linked directly with concurrent action-planning meetings hosted by state and local governments, business, civic, and faith organizations nationwide. Climate Science Watch joins Governors, Mayors, business, farm, insurance, youth, faith, civil rights, climate justice, former military, and other leaders, as well as leading climate scientists in endorsing the proposal by the Climate Summit 2013 coalition.
The proposed summit and concurrent action-planning meetings should focus on:
a) The existing and likely future impacts of climate-disruption and its causes;
b) Proven solutions for preparing for and building resilience to climate impacts, and their many benefits;
c) Proven methods for reducing emissions, and their many benefits; and
d) Strategies for rapidly scaling-up the known solutions, obstacles that prevent action, and means for overcoming them.
Climate Summit 2013 home page
From a National Climate Summit news release, February 21:
Governors, Mayors, Business, Insurance, Farm, Military, Youth, Faith, and Other Voices: Enhance The Economy, Improve Public Health, Protect National Security, Safeguard Our Children, Act Justly, and Honor Our Moral Duties By Putting Solutions Into Action
Feb. 21, 2013 – (Washington, DC). A unique bi-partisan coalition is urging President Obama to follow up his State of the Union commitment to address the climate crises by directly engaging America in climate solutions: (www.climatesummit2013.org).
Specifically, the group wants the President to host a kick-off solutions-focused national climate summit linked directly with concurrent action-planning meetings hosted by state and local governments, business, civic, and faith organizations nationwide. The events would be designed to mobilize Americans to implement proven, beneficial solutions to prepare for and build resilience to the impacts of climate change, and reduce climate-damaging greenhouse gas emissions.
“To achieve the bold climate goals the President described in his State of the Union address, he must reach out directly to and engage Americans where they live, work, play, and pray,” said Bob Doppelt, director of The Resources Innovation Group and a leader of the Climate Summit 2013 Coalition.
The national leaders endorsing Climate Summit 2013 include Governors, Mayors, business, farm, insurance, youth, faith, civil rights, climate justice, former military, and other leaders, as well as top climate scientists. A growing list of Catholic leaders that support the proposal can be found here.
“Climate disruption is not just an environmental issue. It is a profound economic, health, social justice, and national security problem with deep moral implications,” concluded Doppelt. “Our proposal is consistent with calls by six scientific societies for a high-level climate summit. It will serve as a springboard to expand existing resilience building and emission reduction programs, launch new ones, and spur tremendous innovation that reaps great near and long term benefits nationwide.” …
The rest of the release contains a set of strong quotes from some of the Governors, Mayors, business leaders, military leaders, faith leaders, and others who endorse the proposal.
Petition to President Obama to Host a National Summit on Climate Disruption
National Climate Summit letter to President Obama
For an overview of the proposal, go to this link.
Earlier posts:
Obama says he will elevate national climate change ‘conversation’