The weather and nascent blooms certainly make it feel like spring. The question is: Spring 2017 or Spring 2005?
Here is yesterday's headline in the Washington Post:
Deja vu?
I wrote about the importance of local climate leadership in a recent blog post. In it I dug out an eerily similar headline from the New York Times, this one in May 2005:
But the point of my post was to emphasize what we were able to accomplish thanks to the determined leadership of mayors and governors who see the on-the-ground impacts of climate change and have the foresight and courage to seek out and embrace solutions.
Indeed, more than 40 mayors who are members of the Mayors National Climate Action Agenda -- from Columbia, SC, to Oakland, CA -- signed a letter to Trump stating:
"We urge you to change course, and to join us. In the meantime, America’s cities will continue to lead the way in moving forward in protecting our residents from the disastrous effects of climate change, and creating a thriving 21st century economy."
So for anyone discouraged by what is happening to critical agencies like the EPA, to effective programs like ENERGY STAR or landmark laws like the Clean Power Plan, look outside of The Beltway.
Look to Atlanta.
Look to California and New York.
Look to Carmel, Indiana.
Look to those 40 cities on the #ClimateMayors letter.
Look to your own community. Local action has worked before, and it will work again.
