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Minneapolis declares 'climate emergency'

The resolution "demands a massive-scale mobilization to halt, reverse, and address the consequences and causes of climate change."
Minneapolis skyline (Credit: Carly Danek, KARE 11)

MINNEAPOLIS — The Minneapolis City Council unanimously passed a resolution Friday to declare a "climate emergency."

The resolution declares "that there is a climate emergency which demands a massive-scale mobilization to halt, reverse, and address the consequences and causes of climate change."

In a news release, city officials said Minneapolis is joining other organizations, clubs, and governments around the world in "bringing awareness to the need to mobilize resources at a scale and speed sufficient to protect civilization, the economy, people, species and ecosystems."

Under the declaration, the city of Minneapolis pledges to establish a "social cost of carbon," which the city describes as "a scientific, monetary measurement of greenhouse gas emissions’ damages to human health, food production, homes and businesses, and energy costs."

The city also commits to starting a sustainable building policy to make all new buildings constructed in the city as energy efficient as possible. The city will also push for "advanced building energy performance standard(s)" with other cities, while also seeking cooperation on other climate actions.

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“Climate change is impacting everything from our ability to put food on the table to what Minneapolis residents pay for infrastructure repairs,” said Mayor Jacob Frey, in a statement. “By declaring a climate emergency, our city officially recognizes the severity of the climate crisis and challenges us as policymakers to take stronger climate action.”

“I believe we need to take this step because we are in a climate emergency, and it is past time for us to start acting with the urgency that this crisis demands,” said resolution co-author Cam Gordon, in a statement. “Going on record in this way provides further rationale for increasing local action to fight the climate crisis. And it will, I hope, be the first step towards adopting a Green New Deal for Minneapolis as soon as possible.”

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