Council President Darrell Clarke

Room 494 City Hall
Broad and Market Streets
Philadelphia, Pa. 19106

September 11, 2016

Honorable Council President Clarke:

As representatives of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) in Philadelphia, we call on City Council to hold public hearings this fall on climate change.

With 2016 the hottest year on record and July being the hottest month in history, it is past time for the City of Philadelphia to do something. We have no comprehensive plan. We are taking little or no action. Cities all across the country are implementing Climate Action Plans, but not Philadelphia. Why? What are we waiting for?

Low-income people, especially elderly people living alone, are dying in their own homes from the heat. As climate change proceeds, the toll will continue to rise. The average electric bill has doubled already this summer. Residents and businesses all across the city are hurting. Now is the time to develop a comprehensive plan to reduce carbon emissions, and a resilience plan to limit the damage already underway. The longer we wait, the worse the situation will get, and the harder it will be to implement solutions.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is requiring every state to develop a Clean Power Plan (CPP) and is permitting states to also develop a Clean Energy Incentive Program (CEIP) as part of the CPP. The CEIP would give Philadelphia double credit for early action to benefit low-income communities. This is an opportunity tailor made for us, and a powerful incentive. We cannot afford to let it slip by.

We have many strengths to build on as we create our own local Climate Action Plan: a great public transportation system, lots of flat roofs that are perfect for solar panels; a strong non-profit sector; vigorous sustainability efforts; a water department that leads the nation in storm water management.

Of the five principal goals of Philadelphia’s Greenworks plan--Energy, Environment, Economy, Equity, and Engagement—the City has made significant progress on four of these. Unfortunately the goal where we lag—Energy—is the one that is most important when it comes to Climate Change.

Holding public hearings on climate change would allow City Council to invite national and international experts to testify as well as provide opportunity to hear from grassroots leaders and city residents. There is an enormous body of expertise available to us. Many cities around the country and the world are grappling with these issues and coming up with innovative ideas, and a growing number of experts are eager to share what is possible.

Quakers have a long history of trying to do the right thing in Philadelphia. From introducing democratic governing principles in the 1600s, to opposing slavery and supporting a free black population, to starting institutions for immigrants and the poor that turned into our city park and library systems, we have always had the best interests of the city at heart. Now, with climate change upon us, we see no greater threat to public health, to our city’s economy, or to our quality of life. Failure to act could be disastrous, now and for generations to come.

We urge you to move forward with a first step of public hearings. Thank you for your prompt response to this critical issue.

Sincerely,

Dana Reinhold, Clerk
Central Philadelphia Monthly Meeting of Friends