Agenda Item 2b) Discussion and Possible Direction Regarding the Development of
Mendocino County’s 2021 Legislative Platform
Marie Jones & Michael Potts: Chair and Vice-Chair of Mendocino County Climate Action Committee
Dear Mendocino Board of Supervisors,
As chair and vice chair of the Mendocino County Climate Action Committee, we are writing to urge you to include Climate Change as a legislative priority for 2021.
Today it is patently clear that our community, our economy, and our natural world are deeply threatened by Climate Change. The multi-year severe drought and recent extreme fire season are directly tied to Climate Change. We all know that our days are hotter, winters shorter, and our rainfall events more intense due to Climate Change.
Local governments can play a leadership role in shaping how our community responds to and addresses this threat. We can no longer say “its not a local government problem.” Clearly the impacts of climate change are having a profound impact on local government, our local economy and out local natural world.
As leaders, the County Board of Supervisors can and should start to look at ways to address both our contribution to Green Houses Gasses and to ways to mitigate the environmental and economic fallout from climate change. Last year you appointed 15 citizens to a Climate Action Advisory Committee (MCCAAC). We are developing a baseline analysis of the County’s current carbon debt, and we have developed a set of “low hanging fruit” in our attached “First Policy Recommendations”. We hope to work with the County team to begin implementation of these easy to achieve action items. We invite you to work with us to adopt and adapt these recommendations, and blend them into County policy, planning and management priorities.
The time to act is now, not tomorrow. Please consider adding Climate Change to your legislative priorities for 2021. Members of MCCAAC are eager to volunteer our expertise and time to assist the Board with this critical effort. To use a metaphor: the kitchen is on fire and we hope you will help us put it out, please don’t ignore it while you cook up a typical menu of legislative actions.
Sincerely,
Marie Jones
Chair, Mendocino County Climate Action Committee
Michael Potts
Vice Chair, Mendocino County Climate Action Committee
Agenda Item 2b) Discussion and Possible Direction Regarding the Development of
Mendocino County’s 2021 Legislative Platform
Marie Jones & Michael Potts: Chair and Vice-Chair of Mendocino County Climate Action Committee
Dear Mendocino Board of Supervisors,
As chair and vice chair of the Mendocino County Climate Action Committee, we are writing to urge you to include Climate Change as a legislative priority for 2021.
Today it is patently clear that our community, our economy, and our natural world are deeply threatened by Climate Change. The multi-year severe drought and recent extreme fire season are directly tied to Climate Change. We all know that our days are hotter, winters shorter, and our rainfall events more intense due to Climate Change.
Local governments can play a leadership role in shaping how our community responds to and addresses this threat. We can no longer say “its not a local government problem.” Clearly the impacts of climate change are having a profound impact on local government, our local economy and out local natural world.
As leaders, the County Board of Supervisors can and should start to look at ways to address both our contribution to Green Houses Gasses and to ways to mitigate the environmental and economic fallout from climate change. Last year you appointed 15 citizens to a Climate Action Advisory Committee (MCCAAC). We are developing a baseline analysis of the County’s current carbon debt, and we have developed a set of “low hanging fruit” in our attached “First Policy Recommendations”. We hope to work with the County team to begin implementation of these easy to achieve action items. We invite you to work with us to adopt and adapt these recommendations, and blend them into County policy, planning and management priorities.
The time to act is now, not tomorrow. Please consider adding Climate Change to your legislative priorities for 2021. Members of MCCAAC are eager to volunteer our expertise and time to assist the Board with this critical effort. To use a metaphor: the kitchen is on fire and we hope you will help us put it out, please don’t ignore it while you cook up a typical menu of legislative actions.
Sincerely,
Marie Jones
Chair, Mendocino County Climate Action Committee
Michael Potts
Vice Chair, Mendocino County Climate Action Committee