Published On: Mon, Oct 8th, 2018

Boca Raton Takes a Step to Address Climate Change

By: Michael Demyan

The Boca Raton City Council passed a resolution last month meant to urge the United States Congress to take action on climate change.

The resolution was passed unanimously by the city council and Mayor Scott Singer and specifically requested Congress to take action through “promoting and encouraging a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuels.”

This came after the city council members were presented with economic policies meant to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the Citizens’ Climate Lobby, which outlined the U.S. House of Representatives’ Bipartisan Climate Solutions Caucus.

Council member Monica Mayotte, who is associated with the Citizens’ Climate Lobby, brought the resolution forward. She made her stance on climate change well-known while running for the city council seat earlier this year and was a member of the Green Living Advisory Board from 2009-2016.

She believes that while climate change is addressed on a larger level, it is important to still make strides on a local level as well.

“Congress is already exploring efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through the work of the Bipartisan Climate Solutions Caucus, and as they do their part nationally, we’ll do our part locally,” she said. “Climate change is not a partisan issue, and we support and encourage the work of the Caucus at the national level.”

Congressman Ted Deutch, a founding member of the Bipartisan Climate Solutions Caucus, praised the city council for passing the resolution.

“South Floridians of all political stripes understand the urgent threat climate change poses to our way of life,” he said. “That’s because rising tides and worsening storms are already affecting our community. I started the Climate Solutions Caucus with equal representation of Democrats and Republicans so that we can start the conversation for bipartisan climate action. Congress should follow the lead of Boca Raton and the Southeast Florida Regional Climate Change Compact to put science above politics and act now on this growing threat.”

The resolution follows one that was passed by the Boca Raton City Council last May, which affirmed their support for the Southeast Florida Regional Climate Change Compact.

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