5 California Cities Among Dozens Backing Carbon Pollution Limits in Court

Media Contacts

Environment California Research & Policy Center

Los Angeles, CA — Berkeley, Los Angeles, Oakland, San Francisco and West Hollywood are among more than 50 city and county governments from 28 states, together with The U.S. Conference of Mayors and the National League of Cities, filing an amicus brief today in support of the Clean Power Plan – the centerpiece of the U.S. strategy to tackle climate change that was delayed by the Supreme Court in February. The brief argued that the carbon pollution limits on power plants is critical to the safety and economic security of local communities across the country.

City and county governments are the first line of defense in weather disasters and climate impacts, which are exacerbated by global warming. Many cities are already experiencing — and paying for — damage caused by climate change. Ninety-eight percent of Californians live in counties hit by at least one weather disaster in the last five years.

“From extreme weather events to public health risks from air pollution, cities are on the frontlines of climate change’s impacts,” said Michelle Kinman, clean energy advocate for Environment California. “That’s why they’ve long been at the forefront promoting clean energy and curbing climate pollution. Thanks to Berkeley, Los Angeles, Oakland, San Francisco and West Hollywood for standing up in court for the biggest step ever taken to tackle global warming.”

The local government brief builds on strong demand for climate action by cities and counties, which view the Clean Power Plan as a “legally necessary step toward addressing the extraordinary threat posed by climate change.” Last year, dozens of mayors sent a letter to President Obama urging him to “provide a path forward to make meaningful reductions in carbon pollution while preparing for the impacts of climate change.”

“We’re confident that the Clean Power Plan will ultimately survive attacks from the polluters, with the help of California cities,” said Kinman. “Less pollution and more clean energy just makes sense for our kids’ health and our planet’s future.”

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Read the full brief: https://web.law.columbia.edu/climate-change/document-login/document-access

 

Amicus Brief Signatories

The U.S. Conference of Mayors; The National League of Cities; ARIZONA: Tucson; CALIFORNIA: Berkeley, Los Angeles, Oakland, San Francisco, West Hollywood; COLORADO: Boulder County, Fort Collins; FLORIDA: Coral Gables, Cutler Bay, Miami, Miami Beach, Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, Pinecrest, West Palm Beach; GEORGIA: Clarkston; IDAHO: Boise; ILLINOIS: Aurora, Elgin, Evanston, Highland Park; INDIANA: Bloomington, Carmel; MAINE: Portland; MASSACHUSETTS: Boston, Holyoke; MARYLAND: Baltimore; MICHIGAN: Ann Arbor, Grand Rapids; MINNESOTA: Minneapolis; MONTANA: Missoula; NEVADA: Henderson, Reno; NEW JERSEY: Hoboken, Jersey City; NEW YORK: Rochester, Syracuse; NORTH CAROLINA: Chapel Hill; OHIO: Newburgh Heights; OREGON: Eugene, Milwaukie, Portland; PENNSYLVANIA: Pittsburgh, West Chester; RHODE ISLAND: Providence; TENNESSEE: Knoxville Mayor Madeline Rogero; TEXAS: Houston, Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings; UTAH: Salt Lake City; VIRGINIA: Arlington County; WASHINGTON: Bellingham, King County; WISCONSIN: Madison, Washburn