National Climate Justice Sign-on Letter

Dear Governors, members of Congress, and elected officials throughout America,

We, the undersigned elected officials from across the United States, are deeply concerned about the devastating impacts of climate change and pollution caused by the extraction, processing, and burning of fossil fuels on the communities we represent.

Record droughts, heat waves, wildfires, coastal flooding, ocean acidification, and storms are costing lives and hundreds of billions of dollars in damages in our communities. Our nation’s mightiest cities have been flooded by unprecedented superstorms including Sandy, Katrina, Harvey, and Maria. Scientists warn that the impacts will continue to worsen, the federal government’s National Climate Assessment predicts economic losses will exceed the GDP of many states, and our military is responding to climate change as a key threat to national security.

Fossil fuel production and burning, the primary driver of climate change, causes serious local impacts and harm to public health from air pollution, water contamination, leaks, explosions and other dangers. Like climate change, the impacts from oil, gas, and coal disproportionately harm low-income communities and communities of color, and exacerbate social inequalities.

Fossil fuel companies knew about the damage their product causes for half a century, yet spent billions of dollars to hamstring society’s response. Decades of denial, misinformation, and lobbying from the fossil fuel industry has delayed critical action to transition our society from its current dependence on fossil fuels to clean, renewable energy and has cost people’s lives.

As leaders responsible for America’s present and future prosperity, we must significantly raise the bar for climate leadership and set our nation on a new path. We join with states, cities, businesses, and institutions that are already taking bold action to protect public health and creating hundreds of thousands of jobs in energy efficiency and clean energy like wind and solar. Honoring the role of workers in building the America of today, we need to ensure our workers are supported in building the clean energy economy of tomorrow, reducing pollution while expanding opportunity.

According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change recent report, preventing catastrophic worst-case scenarios of climate change requires “rapid, far-reaching and unprecedented changes in all aspects of society.” Recognizing that we are in a climate emergency, the tremendous costs of climate change and fossil fuels to our communities, and the grave public health and environmental justice consequences of fossil fuel production, we urge jurisdictions throughout America to commit to:

1. Producing 100% clean, renewable energy, starting with significant investments in disadvantaged communities and places most affected by pollution and currently dependent on fossil fuel jobs.

2. End permitting of new oil, gas, and coal projects and infrastructure, and begin a swift, managed decline of fossil fuel production, starting with phasing out production within a 2,500-foot public health buffer zone of occupied buildings and vulnerable areas, where the greatest harms occur.

3. End public subsidization of fossil fuels, divest from fossil fuel companies, and shift public investments to accelerate the transition to 100% clean energy and help pay for the harm fossil fuels cause our states and municipalities; for example, a modest fee on fossil fuel production would generate billions of dollars to support workers and communities in the transition to 100% clean energy, creating good, family-sustaining jobs and stimulating our economies.

This is the bold climate leadership we need to protect our public health, communities, and economies and lead us forward. By taking these actions and investing significantly more in energy efficiency, clean vehicles and buildings, public transportation, renewable energy, and other innovative solutions in a comprehensive national plan such as a Green New Deal, we will create millions of jobs and a cleaner, healthier, more prosperous future for all Americans now and in the future.

Jonathan Abboud
Santa Barbara Community College Vice President
Isla Vista, CA

Vanessa Agudelo
Councilwoman
Peekskill, NY

L.W. Allstadt
Trustee
Cooperstown, NY

Alex Randolph
City College of San Francisco Board of Trustees Vice President
San Francisco, CA

Nickie Antonio
Representative
Ohio

Stacey Armato
Mayor
Hermosa Beach, CA

Melanie Bagby
Councilmember
Cloverdale, CA

Barry Beck
Assessor
Mono, CA

Bonnie Bennett
Mayor
Aurora, NY

Antonio Blasi
County Commissioner
Hancock County, ME

Lili Bosse
Councilmember
Beverly Hills, CA

Tim Briggs
Representative
Pennslyvania

Marcus Brown
Councilmember
Bridgeport, CT

Arlene Burns
Mayor
Mosier, OR

Alondra Cano
Councilmember
Minneapolis, MN

Greg Casar
Councilmember
Austin, TX

James Chang
Rent Board Commissioner
Berkeley, CA

Barbara Coler
Mayor
Fairfax, CA

Eric Costello
Councilmember
Baltimore, MD

Ann Crosbie
Trustee
Fremont Unified School District, CA

Phillipe Cunningham
Councilmember
Minneapolis, MN

Jessica Davis
Commissioner
Deland, FL

James Dean
Village Trustee
Cooperstown, NY

Thomas Delehanty
Town Clerk
Hardenburgh, NY

Jan Devereux
Vice Mayor
Cambridge, MA

Gary Dielman
President
Baker County Library District, OR

Anthony Dowling
Councilmember
Indiantown, FL

Trevor Elkins
Mayor
Newburgh Heights, OH

Tom Facey
Senator
Montana

Paul Feiner
Town Supervisor
Greenburgh, NY

Susan Fisher
State Representative
North Carolina

Mae Flexer
State Senator
Connecticut, CT

Robyn Gabel
Representative
, IL

Leah Gold
Councilmember
Healdsburg, CA

Kristen Gonzalez
Councilmember
Miami Beach, FL

John Goodwin
Councilmember
Colma, CA

April Graves
Councilmember
Brooklyn Center, MN

Kate Harrison
Councilmember
Berkeley, CA

John Heilman
Councilmember
West Hollywood , CA

Sam Hindi
Mayor
Foster City, CA

Shari Horne
Councilmember
Laguna Woods, CA

Stephen Houlahan
Councilmember
Santee, CA

Karen Jackson
Councilmember
Bridgeport, CT

Johnny Johnston
Mayor
Ojai, CA

Suzanne Jones
Mayor
Boulder, CO

Moira Kaleida
School Board Director
Pittsburgh, PA

Anna Kelles
County Legislator
Tompkins, NY

Dave King
Councilmember
Petaluma, CA

Kaye Kory
State Delegate
Virginia

Sara Lamnin
Councilmember
Hayward, CA

Daniel Lee
Councilmember
Culver City, CA

Esther Lemus
Councilmember
Windsor, CA

Tina Liebling
State Representative
, MN

Lange Luntao
School Board Trustee
Stockton, CA

Joey Manahan
Councilmember
City of Honolulu, HI

Eduardo Martinez
Councilmember
Richmond, CA

Justin Massey
Councilmember
Hermosa Beach, CA

Thomas McLeod
Councilmember
Tukwila, WA

Ryan Mello
Councilmember
Tacoma,

Dale Miller
County Councilmember
Cuyahoga, OH

Denise Mitchell
Councilmember
College Park, MD

Nina Morris
Councilmember
Lancaster, TX

Michelle Mussman
State Representative
56th District, IL

Ducson Nguyen
Alderperson
Ithaca, NY

Sean O’Brien
Village Trustee
Canton, NY

Samantha Paradis
Mayor
Belfast, ME

Andy Pease
Councilmember
San Luis Obispo, CA

Lindy Peters
Mayor
Fort Bragg, CA

Quentin Phipps
State Representative
Middletown, CT

Keith Powers
Councilmember
New York City, NY

Chantel Raghu
Councilmember
Oxford, OH

Arla Ramsey
Vice Chair
Blue Lake Rancheria, CA

William Reinhardt
County Legislator
Bethlehem Albany County, NY

John Rigg
Councilmember
College Park, MD

Martha Robertson
Legislator
Tompkins County, NY

Tiffany Rolla
Councilmember
Rolla, MO

Brandon Rose
Recreation & Park District Director
Fair Oaks, CA

Deane Rykerson
State Representative
1st District, ME

Evetty Satterfield
School Board Member
Knox County, TN

Jeremy Schroeder
Councilmember
Minneapolis, MN

Balvir Singh
Freeholder
Burlington County, NJ

Dana Stein
State Delegate
Baltimore County District 11, MD

Mary Sullivan
State Representative
Vermont

John Tate II
Alderman
Racine, WI

Roseann Torres
Director
Oakland Board of Education, CA

Miguel Villapudua
Supervisor
San Joaquin, CA

Jenna Wadsworth
Vice Chair
Wake County Soil & Water Conservation District, NC

Irene Weiser
Councilmember
Caroline, NY

Melvin Willis Jr.
Vice Mayor
Richmond, CA

Mark Witmer
Town Supervisor
Caroline, NY

Vance Wyatt
County Commissioner
North Chicago, IL

David Zito
Mayor
Solana Beach, CA

Manuel Acosta
Councilmember
South El Monte, CA

James Albis
State Representative
East Haven – 99th District, CT

Carol Ammons
State Representative
103rd District, IL

Clinton Anderson
Councilmember
Beloit, WI

Dorcey Applyrs
Councilmember
Albany, NY

Jesse Arreguín
Mayor
Berkeley, CA

Markus Batchelor
State Board of Education Representative
Washington, DC

Wesley Bellamy
Councilmember
Charlottesville, VA

Jennifer Benson
Representative
Massachusetts

Jim Blatchford
School Committee Vice Chair
Lawrence, MA

Bill Botzow
State Representative
Vermont

Todd Brogan
Committeeman
Ward 4, DC

Brandon Buchanan
County Supervisor
Eau Claire, WI

Melinda Bush
State Senator
31, IL

Mike Carberry
Supervisor (Chair)
Johnson County, IA

Kelly Cassidy
State Representative
14th District Chicago, IL

Letitia Clark
Councilmember
Tustin, CA

Ashley Comans
School Board Director
Wilkinsburg, PA

Brendan Coyne
Mayor
Cornwall-on-Hudson, NY

David Crowley
State Representative
Wisconsin, WI

Barbara Currie
Representative
25th District, IL

Gleam Davis
Mayor Pro Tem
Santa Monica, CA

Michelle Deatrick
County Commissioner
Washtenaw County, District 2, MI

Michael Dembrow
Senator
Oregon

Michael Devin
State Representative
Main

Ric Dietrich
Supervisor
Tompkins, NY

John Duran
Mayor Pro Tem
West Hollywood, CA

Megan Ellyia Green
Alderwoman
St. Louis , MO

Paul Fadeli
Councilmember
El Cerrito, CA

Lauren Kuby
Vice Mayor
Tempe, AZ

Joe Fitzgibbon
State Representative
Washington

Mike Foote
State Senator
Colorado

Mark Gamba
Mayor
City of Milwaukie, OR

Julian Gold M.D.
Vice Mayor
Beverly Hills, CA

Rubio Gonzalez
Councilmember
Pomona, CA

Cam Gordon
Councilmember
Minneapolis, MN

Ford Greene
Councilmember
San Anselmo, CA

Jelani Harvey
Supervisor
Plantation, FL

Bill Henry
Councilmember
Baltimore, MD

Tyrell Holcomb
ANC Commissioner
Washington, DC

Frank Hornstein
Representative
Minnesota 61A, MN

April Humphrey
Town Councillor
Yarmouth, ME

David James
Metro Council President
Louisville, KY

Tishaura Jones
Treasurer
St. Louis , MO

Nicholas Josefowitz
BART Director
San Francisco, CA

Meghan Kallman
Councilmember
Pawtucket, RI

Kelly Kent
School Board Vice President
Culver City Unified School District, CA

Alisa Klein
Councilmember
Northampton, MA

Gary Koutnik
County Representative
Otsego County, NY

Brad Lander
Councilmember
New York CIty, NY

Benny Lee
Councilmember
San Leandro, CA

John Leopold
Supervisor
Santa Cruz , CA

Barbara Lifton
Assembly Member
125th Assembly District, NY

Jake Mackenzie
Councilmember
Rohnert Park, CA

Josh Mandelbaum
Councilmember
Des Moines, IA

John Marty
State Senator
Minnesota

Tim Mathern
State Senator
North Dakota

Kol Medina
Mayor
Bainbridge Island, WA

Al Mendall
Councilmember
Hayward, CA

David Miramant
State Senator
Maine

Stephanie Morales
Commonwealth’s Attorney
Portsmouth, VA

Julie Morrison
State Senator
29th District, IL

Svante Myrick
Mayor
Ithaca, NY

Marcelia Nicholson
County Supervisor
Milwaukee County, WI

Ryan O’Malley
Councilor
Malden, MA

Barbara Parker
City Attorney
Oakland, CA

Jan Pepper
Vice Mayor
Los Altos, CA

Joshua Peters
State Representative
District 76, MO

Gerald Pietraszek
Councilmember
Colden, NY

Denise Provost
State Representative
Massachusetts

Carmen Ramírez
Mayor Pro Tem
Oxnard, CA

Harvey Rarback
Vice Mayor
Half Moon Bay, CA

Cynthia Replogle
Director
Oceano, CA

Margarita Rios
Vice Mayor
Norwalk, CA

Melissa Robinson
School Board President
Kansas City, MO

Regina Romero
Councilmember
Tucson, AZ

Brian Rowland
Councilmember
Prairie View, TX

Meghan Sahli-Wells
Vice Mayor
Culver City, CA

Greg Scharff
Vice President Association of Bay Area Governments
Palo Alto, CA

Rick Segerblom
County Commissioner
District E, NV

Sammy Slade
Alderman
Carrboro, NC

Mimi Stewart
State Senator – Majority Whip
Senate District 17, NM

Peter Swiderski
Mayor
Hastings-on-Hudson, NY

Deanna Taylor
School Board Member
Winston-Salem, NC

Susan Vaccaro
Town Clerk
Tully, NY

Paula Villescaz
San Juan Unified School District Board Member
Carmichael, CA

Scott Waguespack
Alderman
Chicago, IL

Matt Westmoreland
Councilmember
Atlanta, GA

Jennifer Wilson
School Committee Member
Littleton, MA

Robert Wittenberg
State Representative
Michigan

Michael Yantachka
State Representative
Vermont

Quinton Zondervan
City Councilmember
Cambridge, MA

Danielle Adams
Soil & Water Conservation District Supervisor
Durham, NC

Pious Ali
City Councilor at Large
Portland, ME

Francena Amparo
Legislator
Dutchess County, NY

Marti Anderson
State Representative
Des Moines, IA

John Arena
Alderman
Chicago, IL

Dan Arriola
School Board Trustee
Tracy, CA

Quantel Bazemore
Village Trustee
Ossining, NY

Lisa Bender
Council President
Minneapolis, MN

Shawna Black
Tompkins County Legislator
District 11, NY

David Bly
Representative
20B, MN

David Bowen
State Representative
Wisconsin, WI

Klara Brown
School Board Member
Wilkinsburg, PA

Doug Bullock
County Legislator
Albany County, NY

Tom Butt
Mayor
Richmond, CA

Adam Carranza
Mountain View School District Board Trustee
Mountain View, CA

Ruscal Cayangyang
Boardmember
Vallejo City Unified School District, CA

Betsy Coffia
County Commissioner
District 1, Grand Traverse County , MI

Richard Conti
President Pro Tempore and Councilmember
Albany, NY

Sharece Crawford
Advisory Neighborhood Commissor
Washington, DC

Ross Cunniff
Councilmember
Fort Collins, CO

John D’Amico
Councilmember
West Hollywood , CA

Chad Davis
Legislator
Oneida County, NY

Anthony Del Plato
Trustee
Village of Interlaken, NY

Jean Bradley Derenoncourt
Councilmember At-Large
Brockton, MA

Stephen Devoto
Chair, Planning and Zoning Commission
Middletown, CT

Jason DiPonzio
Councilmember
Brighton, NY

Kathy Durham
City Councilmember at large
Nevada

Chloe Eudaly
Commissioner
Portland, OR

Sara Feigenholtz
Representative
Illinois

Andy Josephson
State Representative
Alaska House District 17, AK

Drew Fixell
Mayor
Tarrytown, NY

Debora Fudge
Councilmember
Windsor, CA

Marita Garrett
Mayor
Wilkinsburg, PA

Aaron Gomez
Councilmember
San Luis Obispo, CA

Lorena González
Councilmember
Seattle, WA

Daniel Gordon
Councilmember
Bowling Green, OH

Manna Jo Greene
Legislator
Ulster County, MO

Alice Hausman
State Representative
Minnesota

Lisa Herbold
Councilmember
Seattle, WA

Christy Holstege
Councilmember
Palm Springs, CA

Lindsey Horvath
Councilmember
West Hollywood, CA

Christine Ingrassia
Alderperson
Saint Louis, MO

Jillian Johnson
Mayor Pro Tempore
Durham, NC

Kendric Jones
Councilmember
Prairie View, TX

Fazlul Kabir
Councilmember
College Park, MD

Rebecca Kaplan
Councilmember at-Large
Oakland, CA

Marina Khubesrian
Mayor
South Pasadena, CA

Dan Klein
Legislator
Tompkins County, NY

Liz Krueger
State Senator
28th District, NY

Chris Larson
State Senator
District 7, WI

Roland Lemar
State Representative
Connecticut

Matthew Lesser
State Representative
Connecticut

Paul Lopez
Councilmember
Denver, CO

Natalia Macker
Commissioner
Teton County, WY

Mark Marcoplos
County Commissioner
Orange County, NC

Krystal Marx
Councilmember
Burien, WA

Lauren Meister
Councilmember
West Hollywood , CA

Brandi Merolla
Councilmember
Tusten, NY

John Mirisch
Councilmember
Beverly Hills, CA

Dominick Moreno
State Senator
Colorado, CO

Jeri Muoio
Mayor
West Palm Beach, FL

Tony Navarrete
State Representative
Arizona, AZ

Kathy Nolan
County Legislator
Ulster County, NY

Jose Ornelas
Councilmember
San Joaquin, CA

Mariah Parker
County Commissioner
Athens, GA

Sofia Pereira
Mayor
Arcata, CA

Kristen Petersen
Councilmember
Capitola, CA

Daniel Poellot
Trustee
Tully, NY

Miguel Pulido
Mayor
Santa Ana, CA

Carlos Ramirez-Rosa
Alderman
Chicago, IL

Ada Recinos
Councilmember
Richmond, CA

Chris Rey
Mayor
Spring Lake, NC

John Rizzo
Trustee
San Francisco Community College District, CA

Monica Rodriguez
Councilmember
Los Angeles, CA

Angela Romero
Representative
District 25, UT

Nily Rozic
Assembly Member
/New York

Rebecca Saltzman
BART Director
Oakland, CA

Leslie Schneider
Councilmember
Bainbridge Island, WA

Leonard Siegel
Mayor
Mountain View, CA

Art Staed
State Representative
Cedar Rapids HD 66, IA

Philip Stoddard
Mayor
City of South Miami, FL

Eric-John Szczepaniak
Kenowa Hills Public School Board Trustee
Grand Rapids, MI

Spencer Thibodeau
Councilmember
Portland, ME

Raúl Valdés-Fauli
Mayor
Coral Gables, FL

Greg Vitali
State Representative
Pennsylvania

Gary Waldeck
Councilmember
Los Altos Hills, CA

Joseph Wetmore
Town Board Member
Lansing, NY

Michael Winkler
Councilmember
Arcata, CA

Patrick Wojahn
Mayor
College Park, MD

Mary Dolores Young
Councilmember
Boulder, CO

 

Zach Adamson
Vice President of Council
Indianapolis, IN

Ben Allen
State Senator
California

Emily Anderson
Councilmember
Eau Claire, WI

Alexsandra Annello
City Representative
El Paso, TX

Nicola Armacost
Trustee
Hastings on Hudson, NY

Vinnie Bacon
Councilmember
Fremont, CA

Kate Beaton
Councilmember
Eau Claire, WI

Liz Bennett
State Representative
Iowa, IA

Catherine Blakespear
Mayor
Encinitas, CA

Mike Bonin
Councilmember
Los Angeles District 11, CA

Spencer Brandt
Director
Isla Vista, CA

Vallie Brown
Supervisor
San Francisco County, CA

Kristerfer Burnett
Councilmember
Baltimore, MD

Colin Byrd
City Councilmember
Greensbelt, MD

Nick Cartwright
Councilmember
Rose Bud, AR

Morgan Cephas
State Representative
Pennsylvania, PA

Zeke Cohen
Councilmember
Baltimore, MD

Daniel Corona
Mayor
West Wendover, NV

Frank Crawford
Vice President School Board
Marysville Joint Unified School District, CA

Maureen Cunningham
Town Board Member
Bethlehem, NY

Cheryl Davila
Councilmember
Berkeley, CA

Eduardo De La Riva
Mayor
Maywood, CA

Donovan Dela Cruz
State Senator
Hawai’i

Vincent DeSantis
Mayor
Gloversville, NY

David Diaz
Clerk
El Monte Union High School District Board of Trustees, CA

Peter DiSclafani
Town Councilmember
Shandaken, NY

William Dwight
Councilmember at-Large
Northampton, MA

Matias Eusterbrock
Director
Isla Vista Recreation & Park District, CA

Samuel Fein
County Legislator
Albany County, NY

Alex Fisch
Councilmember
Culver City, CA

Steve Fletcher
Councilmember
Minneapolis, MN

Patrick Furey
Mayor
Torrance, CA

Willie German Jr.
Commissioner
Muskegon, MI

Shanthi Gonzales
Director
Oakland Board of Education, CA

Tim Goodrich
Councilmember
Torrance, CA

Jeremy Gragert
Councilmember
Eau Claire, WI

David Hampton
Councilmember
Rio Vista, CA

Lesa Heebner
Councilmember
Solana Beach, CA

Ed Hernandez
Councilmember
San Leandro, CA

Lynda Hopkins
Supervisor
Sonoma, CA

Lindsey Horvath
Councilmember
West Hollywood , CA

Julian Ivey
State Delegate
47-A, MD

Christopher Johnson
County Legislator
Westchester County, NY

Daniel Jones
City Councilmember
Rolla, MO

Dan Kalb
Councilmember
Oakland, CA

Paul Kashmann
Councilmember
Denver, CO

Mario King
Mayor
Moss Point, MS

Nick Komives
Councilmember at-Large
Toledo, OH

Stephen Kullmann
Harbor Commissioner
Bay Harbor Recreation and Conservation District, CA

Brett Lee
Mayor Pro Tem
Davis, CA

Daniel Lemons
Village Trustee
Hastings-on-Hudson, NY

Henry Levy
Treasurer
Alameda, CA

Joe Luginbill
School Board President
Eau Claire, WI

Marcus Madison
Councilmember
Elyria, OH

Dianne Martinez
Councilmember
Emeryville, CA

Mary Lou Marzian
State Representative
34th District, KY

Kevin McKeown
Councilmember
Santa Monica, CA

David Mejia
Councilmember

Alhambra, CA

Nancy Metayer
Soil and Water Supervisor
Broward County Conservation District, FL

Judith Mitchell
Mayor Pro Tem
Rolling Hills Estates, CA

Jason Morgan
Commissioner
Washtenaw County, MI

Meaghan Murphy
Assessor’s Office
Chicago/Cook County, IL

Ernest Newton II
Councilmember
Bridgeport, CT

Cory O’Brien
Councilmember
Hamden, CT

Jillian Padua
Councilmember
Tusten, NY

Jeannine Pearce
Councilmember
Long Beach , CA

Gregory Pettis
Mayor Pro Tem
Cathedral City, CA

David Pollock
Councilmember
Moorpark, CA

Gabriel Quinto
Councilmember
El Cerrito, CA

Andres Ramos
Community College Trustee
Lynwood, CA

Jermaine Reed
Councilmember
Kansas City, MO

Annie Rice
Alderwoman
St. Louis, MO

J.R. Roberts
Mayor Pro Tem
Palm Springs, CA

Armando Rodriguez
Board of Trustee Member
Canutillo, TX

Hillary Ronen
Supervisor
San Francisco County, CA

Melissa Sargent
State Representative
District 48, WI

David Schott
City Councilmember
Rolla, MO

Sunny Simon
Councilmember
Cuyahoga County, OH

Russ Stark
Former Councilmember/Chief Resiliency Officer
St. Paul, MN

David Stout
County Commissioner
El Paso County, TX

Kathleen Talbot
Councilmember
Peekskill, NY

Matthew Tirman
City Councilmember
Bainbridge Island, WA

Candace Valenzuela
Carrollton-Farmers Branch School Board Trustee
Dallas, TX

Zach Vruwink
Mayor
WI Rapids, WI

Brett Watson
Vice Mayor, Councilmember
Arcata, CA

Jenny Willford
Councilor
Northglenn, CO

Ted Winterer
Mayor
Santa Monica, CA

Dwight Worden
Mayor
Del Mar, CA

Gregory Young
Supervisor
Fulton County, NY