Editor,
I am always proud of my city when I see it acting as a leader on environmental issues. From our commitment to our offshore marine reserves to the ordinance banning single-use plastic bags (which are now banned across the state), Laguna Beach has always been ahead of the curve. That’s why when I recently read through a list of nearly 300 U.S. city mayors who are pledging to carry through our nation’s commitments to the Paris Agreement following President Trump’s announcement that he would be leading out of the pivotal global agreement, I was surprised to see that Laguna Beach was not on the list yet.
There is no denying that Laguna Beach is particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. Our downtown businesses face financial losses due to damage caused by increased coastal flooding due to rising sea levels and our world-class tourism industry could lose approximately $14 million per year when our white sandy beaches erode away, according to a study by Duke University. Naturally, our progressive and reasonable City Council has taken steps to help our city meet the challenge of climate change head on. In 2007, the city signed on to a similar effort, called the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement, and in 2009 developed the City of Laguna Beach Climate Protection Plan setting forth our commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. These actions, as well as the effort to conduct a greenhouse gas inventory and monitor our annual progress in cutting emissions, positions Laguna Beach to sign a resolution adopting the spirit and goals of the Paris Agreement. This requires no additional planning, ordinance, or financial input.
I am posing a request to our forward-thinking City Council members to sign such a resolution and join with the 300 cities that make up the Climate Mayors network to signal to the world that while our president may not see an imperative for action, our local leaders do and they will be the ones who, together, will help the United States meet our pledge to addressing climate change and building resilient communities.
Sara Lowell, Laguna Beach
Sara, the sea level rises and falls about 8 feet at Laguna Beach due to tides. Eight feet! You think an inch or two rise is going to make a difference? No, it will not. Neither will all of your best efforts to reduce atmospheric carbon dioxide. Former secretary of state, John Kerry, has stated that if the U.S. stops burning coal, natural gas, and all petroleum distillates, and rides bicycles to work, it will make absolutely NO DIFFERENCE in carbon dioxide levels much less earth’s climate. The Paris Accord would cost Americans trillions of dollars and millions of jobs, and achieve absolutely nothing except to make so-called “environmentalists” feel good about themselves.
Now if you really want to “make a difference,” then stop taking vacations, cancel all art shows, the Sawdust Festival, the Pageant of the Masters, close all shops and beaches, and stay at home. From now on. It’s what you preach. It’s what Governor Schwarzenegger mandated in his Executive Order, cutting carbon emissions 80%! If it’s really what you “environmentalists” want, then go ahead, practice what you preach. But don’t think you’re fooling anybody when you say one thing, but continue on with flying and driving everywhere, all the time.
Climate Change is NOT manmade, no matter how loudly the Left screams. Tens of thousands of learned scientists have written books and papers stating it is a hoax simply because it is. Others are taking billions from government grants to continue the Big Lie, and keep the *research* money rolling in, and keep off the college Blackball List.
Hear, Hear! Excellent reply John.
I find Sara’s comment “forward-thinking City Council members” hard to digest.