HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-30-17 Public Comment - B. Hoopes - Paris Climate AgreementFrom:Chris Mehl
To:Agenda
Subject:Fw: Paris Climate Agreement - position statement
Date:Wednesday, November 29, 2017 5:08:08 PM
From: Bridget Hoopes <bmhoopes@gmail.com>
Sent: Wednesday, November 29, 2017 5:45 PM
To: carson@vote4carson.com; mehlchris@hotmail.com; ihopomeroy.bozeman@gmail.com
Subject: Paris Climate Agreement - position statement
Good afternoon:
As a Bozeman resident—and someone who has spent much of her career working in the best
interest of the environment—I’m compelled to notify you that I do NOT support the Paris
Climate Agreement, which has been proposed for city-wide endorsement. More specifically,
the following points must be addressed before I could recommend any form of endorsement:
1. Article one, number one, part (a): Suggesting that humans are capable of holding global
temperature increases to below two degrees Celsius does not allow us to account for other
natural variables impacting temperature fluctuations. I recommend establishing an achievable
measure.
2. Article four, numbers two and four: We are already doing this via various Executive Orders.
3. Article four, number 5; article 6, number 13; article 9 (all); article 10, number 6; article 13,
number 14: As a taxpayer, financing environmental action for other nations, without
establishing limits or accountability, presents tremendous risk to our economy and is the
equivalent of endorsing a blank check.
4. Article four, number 11: This allows any nation to excuse themselves from not meeting their
obligations under the Agreement.
5. Article four, number 17: This points to a lack of a standard or any other means to quantify
responsibility on a nation-by-nation basis.
6. Overall: The cost implications associated with implementing this agreement cannot be
quantified, but they would be significant.
7. Overall: As a nation, if we endorsed this Agreement, I’m confident that we would honor our
commitment; however, because this Agreement lacks accountability—and is ridden with
loopholes—we should not expect other nations to consistently honor this Agreement.
8. General: Various references are made to the, “Warsaw International Mechanism,” as
guidance, and I recommend we understand the implications of this guidance before endorsing
the Agreement.
In closing, I admire the intent to address climate change as a global community; however, I
don’t think this Agreement provides a foundation. Instead, I recommend our nation, including
Bozeman, show a commitment to the environment beyond a political statement. There are
alternatives to endorsing this Agreement that will be a fair resolution for all stakeholders.
Please kindly pass my comments onto your Commission colleagues that are not included on
distribution here--I'm unable to send the full text via the City's email option.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Bridget M. Hoopes
406-381-8620