Join Minnesota communities in planning
Livable Planet Summits
SEPTEMBER
People across Minnesota are coming together in their communities to work on the good fight for a livable planet. We are planning Community Summits for Sunday, September 22, 2019 that will focus on what we can do locally. These Minnesota summits will coincide with the United Nations Climate Action Summit in New York City on September 23 and 24.
What is this and how did it all start?
On March 15, 2019, 1.6 million young people, in 1700 cities took to the streets “with a clear message to world leaders: act now to save our planet and our future from the climate emergency.” (The Guardian, 3/16/19) The day after the youth were in the streets, the Secretary General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, called for a Climate Action Summit in New York City for September 23 and 24 for governments, the private sector, civil society, local authorities and other international organizations to come together and boost ambition and accelerate actions. A group of women in east central Minnesota heard this and decided to organize Simultaneous Summits throughout Minnesota.
What is the emergency?
The Earth is surrounded by an atmosphere that is five miles high, and works as the Earth’s lungs. There is way too much carbon dioxide now in the atmosphere, and is getting denser every day because of the extraction and burning of coal, gas and oil and the unsustainable farming practices. The crisis is escalating: more droughts, floods, high heat and extreme weather. To prevent the predicted environmental catastrophe, we must decrease global emissions by 49% by 2030. Massive collective action is required.
LET’S TALK ABOUT IT
Most of us know we are in a crisis, an environmental crisis, but 2/3 never talk with anyone about it.
How do we talk about it??
The best thing we can do is talk about the environmental crisis.
WHAT OTHERS SAY ABOUT THE CRISIS
“Later” is officially over.
To have a livable planet, it is surely worth whatever it costs, and what it takes.
Until we get national action, we need to do the work for a livable planet state by state, city by city.
The goals of the Green New Deal are supported by 81% of registered voters. Implementing and legislating the goals of The Green New Deal will cost LESS than doing nothing.
“The Green New Deal Costs Less Than Doing Nothing,” Dave Levitan, New Republic.
The Green New Deal mobilization will create high-quality union jobs that pay prevailing wages, will offer training and advancement opportunities, and will guarantee wage and benefit parity for workers affected by the transition. It will also guarantee a job with a family-sustaining wage.
Everyone agrees we need to invest in renewable energy.
The crisis is an opportunity to build a better society.
In 2017, the world subsidized fossil fuel businesses by $5.2 trillion.
The energy system should be publicly owned.
It is predicted that there are potentially 65 million new low-carbon good paying jobs.
Livable Planet Contact Form
Organizations and individuals participating in this proposal and are currently planning a community Simultaneous Summit: Isanti County Environmental Coalition, Health Professionals for a Healthy Planet, Women’s Environmental Institute, Wild River Audubon Society, Minnesota Alliance for Retired Americans, North Words Project, Women Thinking Out Loud, Former Representative Karen Clark, Individuals in 350.org. and Take Action, Senate District 32, Connections Lab, Environmental Caucus DFL