Passed by DPSFV Executive Board April 1, 2019
Whereas, climate change represents an urgent and existential threat to civilization, with an international consensus of scientists agreeing that humanity must drastically reduce greenhouse gas emissions 45 percent by 2030 and net zero emissions by 2050 if the world is to limit warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius;
Whereas, California is uniquely vulnerable to climate change devastation, as witnessed by drought-worsened wildfires including the Camp Fire (Butte County, 86 dead, 2018), Tubbs Fire (Sonoma County, 22 dead, 5643 structures lost, 2017), Mendocino complex fire (Mendocino, Lake, Colusa, and Glenn counties, 459,000 acres burned, 2018), and Thomas fire (Ventura and Santa Barbara counties, 271,000 acres burned, 2017); and is equally vulnerable to sea level rise, atmospheric rivers causing inland flooding, and other impacts;
Whereas, a Green New Deal (calling for net zero greenhouse gas emissions within a very short time frame; creation of millions of good jobs; investment in the infrastructure and industry of the United States; securing clean air and water, climate and community resilience, healthy food, and access to nature for all; and promoting justice and equity with respect to frontline communities, all while ensuring a just transition for workers in the fossil fuel and related industries), will enable the United States to become carbon neutral, while in the process virtually eliminating poverty and making economic security available to every American;
Therefore be it resolved, that the Democratic Party of the San Fernando Valley demands a California Green New Deal that enables California and federal public works programs to achieve the above goals, with hiring preferences for formerly incarcerated and socially and/or economically disadvantaged peoples; ramps up deployment of electric vehicles, charging stations, and electric public transit; transitions California away from extraction and refining of fossil fuels; creates substantial setbacks separating fossil fuel extraction from places where people live, heal, and learn; deeply involves labor unions’ leadership role in the process of job training and worker deployment; creates a network of public banks to finance infrastructure and other matters; respects Indigenous rights; ensures that local implementation of the transition from fossil fuels is led from the community level; and ensures that frontline communities affected by environmental justice are given priority to mitigate poor planning and zoning decisions of the past;
And therefore be it further resolved, that this resolution be sent to Gov. Gavin Newsom, Senate Pro Tem Toni Atkins, and Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon, with instructions to draft legislation in keeping with the scale and urgency of the climate crisis.
Submitted and authored by RL Miller