Open Letter to The Honorable Rahm Emanuel:
As members of Chicago 350.org, an organization dedicated to fighting climate
change, we commend you on recently publishing the now unavailable EPA pages on climate change that President Trump and EPA chief Scott Pruitt ordered to be removed. In making this climate data available on the city's Climate Change website, Chicago has countered the current administration's spirit of obscurantism and offered the public a much needed and appreciated tool.
Climate change is real—beyond the point of a belief—with more than 97 percent of all scientists behind it. Burying our heads in the sand will only worsen the dire consequences. But Chicagoans can be proud to read on the new webpage that "here in Chicago we know climate change is real and we will continue to take action to fight it."
In December 2016, Chicago 350 offered the city a new weapon in this battle, a city council resolution. Introduced by Ald. John Arena and directly endorsed by 39 aldermen, this resolution asks the city to fight climate change by fully divesting all city funds from fossil fuel holdings over the next five years.
Cities like Copenhagen; Washington, D.C.; Santa Fe, New Mexico; and San Francisco have already committed to divestment. Divestment by a city the size of Chicago would send a powerful message that the era of fossil fuels is over because our survival is at stake.
Indeed, climate change will damage Chicago in the following ways. More intense and frequent heat waves will increase heat-related illnesses, degrade air quality and escalate costs associated with electricity, landscaping, road maintenance, police and firefighting. Heavier storms will bring more flooded streets and basements, disrupted transportation, polluted waterways, ruined crops and crumbling infrastructure. As the century's end nears, the trees and plants of northern Illinois' climate will die as the growing zone becomes equivalent to that of northern Alabama today.
It is the duty of our elected officials, and you in particular as our mayor, to take measures mitigating this disastrous impact to the greatest extent possible. For this reason, we urge you to rapidly pass the divestment resolution that is in front of the city council. This will benefit Chicago and the world.
Sincerely,
Chicago 350
