How to make livable climate a New Year’s resolution

At New Year’s many parents make resolutions, like preparing healthier meals or spending more time with family. This year, some Bay Area mothers are adding a new kind of resolution: preserving a livable climate for all children.

In the wake of wildfires and superstorms, parents are realizing that our children’s future is in grave jeopardy. A landmark United Nations report released in October shows we have only 12 years to dramatically transition off fossil fuels or risk runaway climate destabilization. While climate chaos affects the poor first and worst, no one is safe from the cascading effects.

It’s terrifying to imagine our children facing a future of drought, food shortages, rising seas, wildfire, disease and massive displacement. Rather than get paralyzed by fear, we can find hope by helping to transition our society off climate-destroying fossil fuels to clean, renewable energy.

We begin at the ballot box, by voting for climate champions, and in our homes, by voting with our dollars. When possible, we switch to electric vehicles and appliances, like super-efficient induction stoves. Generous rebate programs for low-income Californians like the Clean Vehicle Assistance Program make these choices more affordable.

But individual actions aren’t enough. Our national nonprofit, Mothers Out Front, empowers teams of mothers and others to drive policy change at the city, state and national levels.

Our South Bay team helped convince the San Jose City Council to establish a Community Choice Energy program, San Jose Clean Energy, as a way to dramatically reduce our city’s emissions. In February, all residents will begin receiving 80 percent carbon-free electricity from SJCE for 1 percent less than PG&E, dramatically reducing our carbon footprint. Those who can afford an extra $5-$10 per month can upgrade to TotalGreen for 100 percent renewable electricity.

We also encourage residents to engage in #ClimateSmartSJ, the city’s new sustainability plan. We’re hosting a “Are YOU Climate Smart?” training on Monday to demonstrate simple steps to make homes more sustainable.

To be even more climate smart, we urge the City Council to use Measure T funds to protect the 7,000-acre Coyote Valley in south San Jose from development. An essential piece of San Jose’s green infrastructure, Coyote Valley’s preservation will avoid tons of added emissions, draw down carbon and provide essential flood protection. We encourage everyone to attend the Rally for Coyote Valley at City Hall on Jan. 22.

Today, Mothers Out Front around California call on Gov. Gavin Newsom to make climate a top priority. While in many ways a climate leader, California remains one of the nation’s top oil-producing states, with devastating impacts on both our environment and our health. We ask Newsom to confront the environmental racism that disproportionally pollutes low-income residents and communities of color and to declare a climate emergency. It’s time to stop, drop and roll: STOP new permits for oil and gas drilling, DROP current production in a just, managed transition to clean, green jobs, and ROLL out science-based buffer zones around homes and schools.

Finally, we call on California’s congressional delegation to join Reps. Ro Khanna and Jackie Speier in supporting a just Green New Deal.

As the new year begins, we hope you’ll join us and resolve to give your children and grandchildren the gift of a livable climate. It may be the most important resolution you ever make.