POWER PAST PARIS RALLY: July 7, 5:30-6:30pm. Concerned citizens of Central Oregon nonviolent action to protest US withdrawal from Paris Climate Agreement, and to encourage local actions that help Central Oregon transition to a clean, low carbon economy aligned with Paris Climate Agreement Goals.
Where: Peace Corner, Greenwood and Wall Street, downtown Bend.
Contact: Diane Hodiak, 350Deschutes, 206-498-5887 dhodiak@comcast.net
President Trump’s withdrawal from the Paris Climate Agreement is having the opposite effect. Hundreds of cities, states, and businesses are moving forward with stronger than ever commitments to clean energy and reduction of polluting emissions. 334 mayors, three governors, more than 80 university presidents and more than 100 businesses — is negotiating with the United Nations to have its submission accepted alongside contributions to the Paris climate deal by other nations.
Why? According to 350Deschutes it’s good for quality of life and the bottom line. Moreover, those that lag making the transition to a clean, low carbon economy, will miss huge opportunities for cost savings and jobs.
Rally participants don’t want Bend and Central Oregon to miss out. Clean energy is cheaper than fossil fuels and continues a downward price curve. These savings bring other benefits such as clean air, clean water, and protection for people and businesses from economic losses due to climate impacts.
The transition to 100% clean renewable energy is gaining momentum: 42 Cities in North America have already achieved or are setting goals to go 100% renewable by 2030 or later. Bend and Deschutes County could do the same.
Lawmakers who get stuck with promoting and investing in dirty outdated energies could encourage substantial losses in the US, Oregon, and Central Oregon. China and Indiaare likely to reach Paris Climate Goals before the US and will be positioned to better benefit from this innovation. Both Tesla and Volvo are planning to have factories in China that exclusively build cars without internal combustion engines. India is also planning on electric vehicles. Oregon — along with a group of five countries and seven statesused the Paris climate change conference to set lofty new emission goals: all new cars sold within its jurisdiction be emission-free by 2050.These “reach” goals are necessary in order to meet the Greenhouse Gas emission reductions recommended by the United Nations International Panel on Climate Change.
Many fear that the working people of the United States are the ones who will really be shortchanged without the transition to a low carbon economy. Solar jobs alone are growing 17 times faster than the US economy. Oregon has 4500 solar jobs that are at risk if lawmakers cut all incentives for solar installation. The US Federal Government’s preoccupation with fossil fuels could result not only in massive losses to the planet, and businesses, but missed opportunities in job creation.
195 Countries have agreed to the Paris Climate Agreement. The US, Nicaragua, and Syria are the only nations not participating.
Helpful links:
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/01/climate/american-cities-climate-standards.html
http://www.go100percent.org/cms/index.php?id=18
https://www.iea.org/newsroom/news/2017/june/new-cem-campaign-aims-for-goal-of-30-new-electric-vehicle-sales-by-2030.html
https://medium.com/@ClimateMayors/climate-mayors-commit-to-adopt-honor-and-uphold-paris-climate-agreement-goals-ba566e260097
https://www.wired.com/2017/06/even-without-paris-business-will-leave-trump-behind-climate-change/
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-05-11/india-s-2030-all-electric-car-target-seen-ambitious-by-iea
https://insideclimatenews.org/news/15052017/china-india-paris-climate-goals-emissions-coal-renewable-energy
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