USA: Democrats pass new resolution on climate emergency

Posted on by Mik Aidt

On 25 August 2018, the Democratic National Committee passed a climate emergency resolution which is a reassertion of a 2016 DNC platform amendment, calling for climate mobilisation.

The resolution expresses “the sense of the DNC that climate change poses an urgent and severe threat to our national security” found that:

“…in light of the catastrophic consequences facing our country, our planet, and civilization from accelerating climate change, the Democratic National Committee affirms its support for a national and inclusive mobilization to rapidly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, with the ultimate goal of moving us towards a near-zero greenhouse gas emissions economy…”

and

“…resolved that, such a mobilization must consider the devastating impact that some policies can have on workers, families and entire communities, and include a serious commitment to addressing those impacts…

and

“that to address the climate emergency, the DNC supports policies that commit the United States to immediately launching a national, social and economic mobilization which includes leading a global effort to mobilize nations to restore a safe climate…”

and

“that the DNC, in the interest of national security and the stabilization of the U.S. economy, embraces a renewable energy future to drive job growth, put millions of Americans back to work in good-paying union jobs that provide high wages, pensions, secure retirements and safe workplaces, address the detrimental health impacts of pollution and extreme weather and to safeguard and rebuild the economy, domestic manufacturing, infrastructure, environment, and natural resources of the United States.”


The resolution was submitted by Russell Greene, a member of The Climate Mobilization Advisory Board, and Susie Shannon, a Democratic National Committee Member in California.

Russell Greene wrote in a newsletter:

“I’m sure many of you will note that about a week before this passed, the DNC had sparked a Twitter storm by reversing its own two-month-old decision to no longer accept contributions from fossil-fuel-related political action committees. Attempting to reconcile the DNC decision to once again accept these donations, while at the same time declaring the climate emergency raises the potential for a fascinating and worthwhile discussion — but at the moment, regardless of the political analysis, what we know is that the DNC has now twice in two years managed to send up a climate S.O.S. declaring that we are in a climate emergency that we must mobilize to address.   
These climate emergency resolutions are powerful educational and organizing tools. As the official position of the Democratic Party, they can and should: inspire evidence-based climate platforms by Democratic elected officials and candidates running for office; become part of a climate policy threshold for personal and organizational endorsements of Democratic candidates; and inform city, state, and national climate policy and mobilization plans.  
As the U.S. government moves backward and some state legislatures inch forward, community activists and elected officials in cities across America are leaning in for emergency mobilization. Last week’s Berkeley Climate Emergency Town Hall was inspiring. This week, Climate Mobilization members in 6 cities and states across the U.S. and Canada will launch new campaigns for local climate emergency mobilizations. Let’s change the conversation and demonstrate what is possible: I think we can get 100 cities to commit to emergency climate mobilization by December 2018, and 1000 cities and several states by Election Day 2020.”   

» If you live in the United States: Sign up here to start a Climate Mobilization chapter in your city. Or see whether you can fill a critical volunteer role.

» Read more on www.theclimatemobilization.org