CH-27 Correspondence – Lynda Arakelian
From: Lynda Arakelian [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Monday, August 15, 2022 3:35 PM
To: CityClerk <[email protected]>
Cc: Council District 2 <[email protected]>; Council District 6 <[email protected]> Subject: LB Climate Action and Adaptation Plan (CAAP)
-EXTERNAL-
Dear Long Beach City Council,
My name is Lynda Arakelian and I am a homeowner/resident in Long Beach's Sixth District. I am affiliated with Long Beach 350, the Climate Reality Project, and US Green Building Council LA Chapter.
I am writing to urge the Long Beach City Council to approve the Climate Action and Adaptation Plan (CAAP), provide funding to implement it, and commit to expediently improving upon it, such as through establishing ambitious targets, actions, and metrics. I am proud to call Long Beach my home and believe our City Council can show that Long Beach is a leader in committing to significant climate change mitigation actions. I have been an environmental and climate change advocate in my personal and professional life for the past 25 years. It pains me to see how far our governmental leaders have fallen short of the actions needed to limit the planet's warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, or 2.7 degrees Fahrenheit. The City Council should embrace the CAAP as a foundational starting point, but recognize it falls short. It should prioritize making immediate CAAP improvements that can create a ripple effect among other cities, resulting in successfully avoiding severe climate disasters that can exacerbate drought, hunger, and conflict worldwide.
For example, the CAAP should establish ambitious target dates for greenhouse gas emissions reductions, including a zero emissions date and intermediate targets. (A minimum reduction target of over 7% per year should begin immediately.) It should furthermore establish a carbon budget to ensure the City of Long Beach doesn't exceed its fair share of humanity's remaining carbon budget. I also urge the City Council to commit to a list of specific climate change mitigation and adaptation actions, which can be added to the CAAP.
I appreciate you considering my recommendations and trust you will make the right decisions needed moving forward to do our part in avoiding catastrophic climate change impacts.
Sincerely,
Lynda Arakelian