Hundreds gather for the 34th Climate Reality Leadership Corps training in Denver, CO
For climate activists, the last several months have been a period of uncertainty and anxiety. Outright assaults on critical environmental policies protecting our land, air, and water, along with the resurgence of climate denial, have been, at best, disappointing, and at worst, terrifying.
The good news? We are more than ready for the challenge ahead. And the remarkable progress toward a clean energy economy will continue – whatever happens in Washington.
One case in point is The Climate Reality Project’s 100% Committed campaign, where citizen activists work with cities, towns, mountain communities, businesses, and college campuses across the country to transition to 100 percent renewable electricity. We have launched a global movement to help these institutions make the transition, and during a time when national environmental news is bleak, these local victories show that the momentum of renewable energy cannot be slowed.
At a time when the headlines can sometimes feel overwhelming, the growing list of cities, companies, and institutions across sectors joining the campaign and making this commitment to clean energy is a real cause for hope. At last week’s Climate Reality Leadership Corps training in Denver, Colorado, former US Vice President Al Gore announced that Colorado State University (CSU) – a major state university serving more than 33,000 students – was making the commitment.
CSU joins other schools like Plymouth State University, Hampshire College, and the University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point; cities like Boulder (CO), Salt Lake City (UT), Park City (UT), and Moab (UT); and companies like Ski Butlers in committing to taking action on the climate crisis by switching from dirty fossil fuels to clean, renewable electricity. Just last week, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that three New York-owned ski resorts—Gore Mountain, Whiteface Mountain, and Belleayre Ski Resort were also signing the pledge. The list of 100% Committed partners continues to grow.
The wave of forward-looking companies, cities, and institutions joining 100% Committed is a sign of a broader shift toward clean energy sources like wind and solar and sends a powerful message: 100 percent renewable is 100 percent doable. Especially now, with the costs of solar in particular plummeting year after year, making clean energy cost competitive with fossil fuels in more and more places around the world. Plus, all signs point to this trend continuing as demand grows, innovation continues, and more clean energy solutions replace coal, oil, and gas.
While policymakers in DC continue to debate settled climate science, embracing clean energy empowers individuals and institutions to roll up their sleeves and make a real and meaningful contribution to solving the crisis, right in their own communities. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, electricity production accounts for about 30 percent of the total US greenhouse gas emissions driving the rising seas, melting glaciers, and extreme weather events like stronger storms and longer droughts that we’re seeing all around the world. 100% Committed works to slash those emissions levels, one commitment at a time.
Now with global temperatures rising on one hand and an administration hostile to truth and the reality of the crisis on the other, it’s up to sectors outside the federal government to take the lead in solving this generational challenge. American universities, companies, businesses, large corporations, and major cities have the power to seize this leadership role, cut greenhouse gas emissions in a big way, and accelerate the society-wide shift to a clean energy economy. And, in many cases, they are finding that doing so not only makes environmental sense, it also makes business sense as they take advantage of the increasingly favorable economics of renewable energy and hedge against volatile fossil fuel prices.
This revolution starts with you. If you’re a business owner, commit to sourcing your electricity from renewable technologies like wind and solar. If you’re a student, pressure the college or university officials whose job is to represent your needs to commit to clean electricity. If you’re a concerned citizen, attend your next town hall or city council meeting and speak up to make clean energy a top policy priority.
All across the country, we’ve seen citizens in unprecedented numbers standing up for our values as Americans, fighting to protect the country and planet we share. With the tools and technology to solve the climate crisis in our hands today and more affordable than ever, it’s time to build on this incredible momentum, and take the fight for a sustainable future forward. It’s a fight where we all have a part to play and can all help drive the shift to a clean energy economy. At Climate Reality, we’ll be out there leading the way. I hope you will too.
For more information on 100% Committed, visit https://www.climaterealityproject.org/content/roadmap-100.