PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Aug.2, 2022

Contact: 

Micah Parkin, micah@350colorado.org, 504-258-1247

Coloradans Join National Day of Climate Action Urging President Biden and Governor Polis to Declare a Climate Emergency  

Marshal Fire victims and local groups held an action at a home site destroyed by the wildfire and called on the President and Governor to take action to use their executive powers to address the worsening climate crisis 

Superior, Colorado – Colorado groups and individuals gathered Tuesday for an action at a Marshall Fire site as part of a national day of climate action calling on President Biden to declare a climate emergency, highlighting the destructive impacts Coloradans are experiencing due to the intensifying climate crisis. Participants gathered in Superior, CO, at a neighborhood site where residents tragically lost their home to the Marshall Fire. 

“As a Marshall Fire victim from Louisville, Colorado, I’m frustrated and heartbroken by the continued funding of the fossil fuel economy, and lackluster transition to a clean economy,” said Susan Nedell, who lost her home in the blaze. “President Biden needs to declare a climate emergency and go further than the bi-partisan Inflation Reduction Act now under consideration by Congress. We have solutions to transform our entire economy to be cleaner, more resilient, more just, and more sustainable, but without this federal leadership, I believe progress will be too slow to avoid the worse effects of the climate disaster.”

Participants held vigil at the neighborhood site destroyed by the Marshall Fire and called on Pres. Biden to declare a climate emergency to use executive powers to address the worsening climate crisis. Biden visited the wildfire site in January and called it a “code red for climate”. A petition urging President Biden to declare a climate emergency was also delivered on Tuesday to the President’s office in DC by national climate organizations.

“If government leaders have not stepped up to address the climate crisis already–given the knowledge of the last 60 years–you don’t deserve to be in office,” said David Guerrero-Murphy, a Marshall Fire victim.  “But hopefully now is not too late for the will of members of Congress and our president to try to address the crisis that is unending.” 

Scientists warn there is a limited window of time to keep global warming below 1.5°celsius. Event organizers say that declaring a climate emergency would enable the president and governor to use their executive powers to make real climate progress and speed the transition off fossil fuels to clean, renewable energy. 

“Coloradans and people across the world are already suffering the impacts of increasingly devastating wildfires, drought, floods, extreme temperatures and impacts to our economy, agriculture, tourism, winter sports and more,” said Micah Parkin, with 350 Colorado, a nonprofit organization dedicated to solving the climate crisis. “Stronger climate leadership is required at the state and national levels to rapidly reduce greenhouse gas emissions to prevent the most catastrophic impacts. So Coloradans are calling on President Biden and Governor Polis to declare a climate emergency and use their executive powers to stop new fossil fuel development and speed the transition to clean renewable energy. 

According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s August 2021 assessment, there is “high confidence” that human-influenced rising temperatures are a direct cause of the extension of the wildfire season, increased drought, and decreased precipitation in the southwest United States. Coloradans are increasing concerned over climate change, wildfire and water, with polling released earlier this year showing that 82% of Coloradans consider climate change a serious problem, with 98% saying wildfires that threaten homes and property are a serious problem here. 

“While our losses as climate crisis refugees were severe–loss of our neighborhood community, all of our earthly goods, all of our professional work–losses we will not regain in our lifetimes–the climate emergency is impacting everyone, especially severely for those with the fewest resources,” said Carol Guerrero-Murphy, who lost her home in the Marshall Fire. “People and planet need all the help we can muster.” 

Biden pledged to take a series of executive actions to tackle the climate crisis in the wake of sputtering climate negotiations in Congress and is reportedly considering declaring a climate emergency. With climate impacts worsening and the latest EPA and Congressional setbacks, the climate movement is calling for President Biden to declare a climate emergency and use his full executive authority to stop approval of fossil fuel leases, projects and exports. 

“The planet has already declared the climate emergency,” said Ean Thomas Tafoya CO State Director for GreenLatinos. “Now is the time for executive leadership at the national & state level to unlock resources and execution actions.” 

“From the floods in Kentucky to the fires in California to the heat in London and British Columbia, the climate emergency has clearly begun–and this is just the beginning,” said Leslie Glustrom, Senior Advisor for Clean Energy Action. “It is well past time that our President and Governor recognized what the scientists have been warning us of for decades–the livability of our planet hangs in the balance. We must act decisively and boldly–NOW!!”

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Photos and videos can be viewed and shared from here.

Organizations sponsoring the Colorado action: Colorado Coalition for a Livable Climate (a coalition of 45 organizations working together to advocate for strategies for reducing greenhouse gas emissions to a level supportive of a livable climate), 350 Colorado, Clean Energy Action, GreenLatinos, Save EPA

 

Quote deck: 

“As a Marshall Fire victim from Louisville, Colorado, I’m frustrated and heartbroken by the continued funding of the fossil fuel economy, and lackluster transition to a clean economy. President Biden needs to declare a climate emergency and go further than the bi-partisan Inflation Reduction Act now under consideration by Congress. We have solutions to transform our entire economy to be cleaner, more resilient, more just, and more sustainable, but without this federal leadership, I believe progress will be too slow to avoid the worse effects of the climate disaster. The devastating Marshall Fire, costing the community over $1 Billion is a stern reminder that the cost of inaction for our lives and pocketbooks, is far greater than the cost to prevent a further climate crisis.”  – Susan Nedell, Marshall Fire Victim

“While our losses as climate crisis refugees were severe–loss of our neighborhood community, all of our earthly goods, all of our professional work–losses we will not regain in our lifetimes–the climate emergency is impacting everyone, especially severely for those with the fewest resources.  People and planet need all the help we can muster.” – Carol Guerrero-Murphy, Marshall Fire victim

“If government leaders have not stepped up to address the climate crisis already–given the knowledge of the last 60 years–you don’t deserve to be in office.  But hopefully now is not too late for the will of members of Congress and our president to try to address the crisis that is unending.” – David Guerrero-Murphy, Marshall Fire victim

“From the floods in Kentucky to the fires in California to the heat in London and British Columbia (and so many other places), the climate emergency has clearly begun–and this is just the beginning,” said Leslie Glustrom, Senior Advisor for Clean Energy Action. “It is well past time that our President and Governor  recognized what the scientists have been warning us of for decades–the livability of our planet hangs in the balance. We must act decisively and boldly–NOW!!”

“The planet has already declared the climate emergency. Now is the time for executive leadership at the national & state level to unlock resources and execution actions. Our leaders must collaborate with the legislative branch to meet the moment. We can come together with community to protect the next seven generations and biodiversity.” – Ean Thomas Tafoya CO State Director for GreenLatinos.

“All anyone has to do these days is step out their front door or watch the evening news to know that we’re in the midst of a climate emergency.” – Jeff Hart with Save EPA.

“Climate change effects are unfolding before our eyes! Heat waves, climate fires, forests gone, poor air quality, water scarcity, drought – we cannot ignore these! All is being lost for my generation and future generations! Keep oil in the ground! Stop issuing new oil permits! Please declare a climate emergency!” – Madhvi Chitoor, youth climate activist.

“Addressing the climate crisis will require much more than the Inflation Reduction Act and Colorado’s thus-far paltry efforts to reduce its greenhouse gas pollution.  We need both President Biden and Governor Polis to declare climate emergencies, and then take strong executive action to preserve a livable climate.” – Kevin Cross, spokesperson for Colorado Coalition for a Livable Climate.

Website for the national day of action: https://www.bidenclimateemergency.com/