CE Movement Updates:
As we approach the end of 2020, the number of climate emergency declarations across the globe continues to grow despite the upheaval and restrictions posed by the COVID-19 pandemic — from 1309 declarations in January 2020 to 1844 declarations today. In the United States, 127 governments have adopted climate emergency declarations.
Congratulations to Climate Emergency organizers in Novato, California, where the Novato Town Council voted unanimously on November 10th to adopt a climate emergency declaration and hold community workshops on greenhouse gas emissions reductions. Following this declaration victory, organizers are continuing to push the Novato city council toward more aggressive targets, including the elimination of carbon dioxide emissions by 2030.
Check out a round up of the latest climate emergency declaration numbers here.
US Climate Politics
Although Donald Trump continues to refuse to concede, the 2020 election has been called for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. The Biden transition team has emphasized that climate change will be at the top of the Biden-Harris agenda, and progressive groups Sunrise Movement and Justice Democrats have launched the Climate Mandate campaign to hold President Biden accountable to the emergency-speed, federal climate action we need — including the establishment of an executive-level Office of Climate Mobilization to coordinate action. TCM has endorsed the Climate Mandate platform.
In spite of the gutting of the Voting Rights Act in 2013 and an increase of voter suppression in the state, a concentrated effort led by black women to empower voters (and especially black voters) in Georgia has successfully led to the traditionally red state flipping to blue in the 2020 Presidential election. Now all eyes are still on Georgia as their two run-off Senate races will determine who has control of the Senate, which in turn could determine how aggressively the Biden administration can push through climate policy.
The Climate Mobilization’s #CountTheVotes/Hold onto Democracy campaign, held in the weeks leading up to the U.S. national election, brought together organizers from across the country to demand a fair election. TCM supporters sent photos for our social media action, attended our kickoff livestream and held actions in seven different states. Our team texted over 16,000 people with information about joining the Election Defenders and reminders to vote. Special thanks to all those who took action to protect this critical election.
Extreme Weather and Climate Disasters
With record concentrations of greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere, 2020 is on track to be the hottest year on record even without an El Niño event, which typically contributes to warmer temperatures. Higher temperatures have meant that the Arctic is not refreezing, even this late in the season.
Our hearts are heavy thinking about those affected by this year’s record-breaking hurricane and typhoon season. In the Philippines, Typhoon Vamco has brought the worst flooding the region around Manila has seen in 45 years.
In Central America, Hurricane Iota, a Category 4 storm, has made landfall just days after Hurricane Eta, another Category 4 storm, caused flooding and damage to Nicaragua and beyond.
Join the Montgomery County, Maryland chapter of The Climate Mobilization, for their webinar Prospects for climate action at the federal and state levels in 2021 on Sunday, November 22nd at 3pm Eastern. The webinar will feature Representative for Maryland’s 8th Congressional District, Jamie Raskin. Click here to register.