100 signatures reached
To: Mayor London Breed
Mayor Breed: don't ignore climate in your budget
San Francisco declared a climate emergency in 2019 and approved a detailed, ambitious Climate Action Plan (CAP) at the end of 2021. To have any hope of successfully implementing it, we need to start now.
The city's Department of the Environment has requested a modest $3.2 million for staff and programs related to the CAP for the 2022-2023 budget cycle. Amazingly, Mayor Breed has not yet committed to this funding in her budget, to be released at the end of May.
After another dry winter and with fire season looming, San Franciscans know that inaction is not an option. We call on Mayor Breed to stop ignoring the climate crisis and include $3.2 million for SF Environment in her 2022-2023 budget.
Why is this important?
Anybody who woke up in San Francisco under the orange sky on September 9, 2020 knows that climate change is undeniably upon us. But if we start now, there are still many things we can do to turn the tide and avoid the worst impacts. In our city that means rapidly switching our homes and vehicles off of fossil fuels and moving to cleaner, safer, electric alternatives powered by renewable energy; expanding transit; strengthening our ecosystems; and protecting and empowering the communities that will face the worst impacts.
San Franciscans are ready to step up and do our part, and we need support and help from our city's leadership. The Climate Action Plan lays out clear strategies and action points for reducing our carbon emissions. Now, we need the Mayor and other city leaders to commit the funding to implement it.
Delay at this point is inexcusable -- the longer we wait, the harder it gets to avoid the increasingly threatening consequences of a hotter planet. San Francisco has a long history of innovation and a strong progressive tradition. We should be leading the country and the world into a healthier, safer, more resilient future.
(Photo credit: "The Day The Sun Didn't Rise" taken on September 9, 2020 by Christopher Michel is licensed under CC 2.0.)