President Trump announced yesterday the withdrawal of the United States from the Paris Agreement aimed at addressing climate change. The City of Menlo Park is vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, with the low-lying Bayfront area potentially facing future flooding and extreme weather and drought affecting all of our neighborhoods.
The City Council has taken actions to address climate change and make our community a stronger, more sustainable and better place to live. Menlo Park has led the way toward a low-carbon economy with its commitment to Peninsula Clean Energy’s ECO 100 renewable energy in all city facilities and groundbreaking renewable energy standards for new developments. Menlo Park already has one of the highest rates of new electric vehicle purchasing (at 14 percent of new vehicles) and will continue increasing its transition away from fossil fuel cars and trucks.
“As Mayor of the City of Menlo Park, I will work with other leaders around the country, and locally, through the Mayors National Climate Action Agenda to honor and uphold our commitments to the goals of the Paris Agreement,” Mayor Kirsten Keith stated.
As our nation falters on its commitment to the global Paris Agreement, Menlo Park will forge ahead together with over 175 U.S. cities representing over 51 million Americans, business leaders and partners who share our interest in protecting communities from devastating climate risks. Menlo Park is working toward a clean, carbon-free future of which we can all be proud.
“I’m excited by the Mayor’s leadership and will work with her and my colleagues on the Commission to recommend new actions to advance our city’s climate goals and commitment to environmental justice,” said Janelle London, Chair of the city’s Environmental Quality Commission.
Menlo Park’s first Climate Action Plan was approved in 2009 and the City Council stated at the time that it was intended to be a “living document” to be updated periodically as current strategies are implemented and as new technologies emerge to meet both the near-term and long-term challenges of climate change.
“I want to assure our residents and businesses that Menlo Park is on track to meet our climate goals by 2020. No action taken by the Trump administration will change our resolve as we advance progress toward global targets for a stable climate. I am committed to collaborating with my City Council colleagues and the leaders of other cities to protect our shared future and develop any necessary enhancements to our adopted Climate Action Plan,” committed Mayor Keith.
