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For Immediate Release, October 10, 2013

Contact: Rose Braz, (415) 435-6809, rbraz@biologicaldiversity.org

Honolulu Joins National Call for Climate Change Action

City Urges EPA to Use Clean Air Act to Cut Greenhouse Gas Pollution 

HONOLULUHonolulu, Hawaii has joined more than 70 other U.S. communities in calling on President Barack Obama and the Environmental Protection Agency to use the Clean Air Act to cut the greenhouse gas pollution that is increasing Hawaii’s risk of extreme weather events and sea-level rise. By passing a resolution Wednesday, the Honolulu City Council joined a broad range of cities such as Detroit, Nashville and Salt Lake City as part of the Center for Biological Diversity’s national Clean Air Cities campaign.

"Climate change will increase risks from flooding, heat waves and extreme weather events, posing greater threats to our health, economy and unique ecosystems," said Councilman Stanley Chang, who introduced the resolution. "This is why we support urgent use of the Clean Air Act to reduce greenhouse gas emissions."

“Honolulu’s leaders recognize the grave threats posed by climate change to Hawaii’s environment, economy and public health and support one key solution: the Clean Air Act,” said Rose Braz, the Center’s climate campaign director. “Honolulu joins over 70 diverse communities around the country who are sending an urgent message to our national leaders. To avert a climate crisis, we need to act now, through the Clean Air Act.”
 
The threats posed by climate change to Honolulu, and Hawaii more broadly, are numerous and potentially catastrophic: rising air and sea-surface temperatures, changing rainfall patterns, increasing ocean acidification and severe weather events. Sea-level rise in Honolulu is projected to reach 17 to 25 inches by 2100, making Honolulu more vulnerable to flooding, hurricanes and tsunamis and posing grave threats to the iconic Waikiki Beach and even Honolulu International Airport.

The Center’s Clean Air Cities campaign is working around the country to encourage cities to pass resolutions supporting the Clean Air Act and using the Act to reduce carbon in our atmosphere to no more than 350 parts per million, the level scientists say is needed to avoid catastrophic climate change.

Similar resolutions have been approved in 71 other U.S. communities: Albany, Ithaca and Yonkers, N.Y.; Bloomfield and Hartford, Conn.; Albany, Berkeley, Santa Monica, Arcata, Oxnard, Santa Cruz, Richmond, Culver City, San Francisco, San Leandro, Fairfax, West Hollywood, Oakland and Los Angeles, Calif.; Seattle, Wash.; Nashville, Tenn.; Kauai, Hawaii; New Hope Borough, Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, Pa.; Tucson, Ariz.; Boone, N.C.; Minneapolis, Minn.; Milwaukee and Madison, Wis.; Newton, Cambridge, Amherst, Newburyport, Northampton and Concord, Mass.; Cincinnati and Oberlin, Ohio; Keene, N.H.; Santa Fe, N.M.; Kansas City, Mo.; Salt Lake City, Utah; Miami, South Miami, Pinecrest, Tampa, Hallandale Beach, Gulfport, Broward County, Monroe County, St. Petersburg, Key West and West Palm Beach, Fla.; Chicago, Ill.; Teton County, Wyo.; Eugene, Ore.; Boulder, Colo.; Burlington, Vt.; Detroit and Ann Arbor, Mich.; Wilmington, Del.; Providence, R.I.; Gary, Ind.; Woodbridge, N.J.; Portland, Maine; Baltimore, Md.; Buffalo, Red Hook, N.Y.; Arlington and Charlottesville, Va., and Washington, D.C. Several other cities around the country will be considering resolutions over the next few months.

Learn more about the Center’s Clean Air Cities campaign and get the facts about the Clean Air Act.

The Center for Biological Diversity is a national, nonprofit conservation organization with more than 625,000 members and online activists dedicated to the protection of endangered species and wild places.


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