It came as no surprise to the people of this Town that we are in a Code Red, as declared by the IPCC. Every day, we are breathing the smoke from what is now the most extensive wildfire year in history following the hottest July in history and as we suffer from a historic mega drought. And, our reservoirs are down to 50% of capacity for this point in the year, only 38% capacity, and we will run out of water early next year without significant change.
Code Red.
The Town of Fairfax was the first jurisdiction in Marin to declare a Climate Emergency. The Town of Fairfax, in considering that resolution, accelerated the recommended timeframe and called for zero emissions for the Town of Fairfax by 2030.
Last year, the Town's Climate Action Committee put together a Climate Action Plan that would get us to the Town's goal of zero by 2030.
As we prepared that plan, we got a lot of public comments that making these changes this quickly would be expensive, and would be hard for people of low means. Over and over, we, the CAC, pledged that we would work with every possible funding source, and with the Town Council and Staff, to find the resources needed to help our people be part of the needed change.
Today, we have the opportunity to consider the use of a rare such opportunity; the money from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). The Federal Government has allocated funds to help local jurisdictions to recover from the devastation caused by the Coronavirus. They have specifically targeted projects to benefit water and sewage systems. They have specifically targeted projects to benefit people who qualify as low- and moderate income.
And so, we have the rare opportunity to serve our people; to make progress towards our Town goal; to deal with the unprecedented water crisis; and to respond meaningfully to the Code Red for the Climate.
When we are facing a crisis of existential proportion, when we are facing a Code Red for Humanity; what price is too much?
Code Red.
The Town of Fairfax was the first jurisdiction in Marin to declare a Climate Emergency. The Town of Fairfax, in considering that resolution, accelerated the recommended timeframe and called for zero emissions for the Town of Fairfax by 2030.
Last year, the Town's Climate Action Committee put together a Climate Action Plan that would get us to the Town's goal of zero by 2030.
As we prepared that plan, we got a lot of public comments that making these changes this quickly would be expensive, and would be hard for people of low means. Over and over, we, the CAC, pledged that we would work with every possible funding source, and with the Town Council and Staff, to find the resources needed to help our people be part of the needed change.
Today, we have the opportunity to consider the use of a rare such opportunity; the money from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). The Federal Government has allocated funds to help local jurisdictions to recover from the devastation caused by the Coronavirus. They have specifically targeted projects to benefit water and sewage systems. They have specifically targeted projects to benefit people who qualify as low- and moderate income.
And so, we have the rare opportunity to serve our people; to make progress towards our Town goal; to deal with the unprecedented water crisis; and to respond meaningfully to the Code Red for the Climate.
When we are facing a crisis of existential proportion, when we are facing a Code Red for Humanity; what price is too much?
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