Columbus Free Press - Columbus announces ambitious Climate Action Plan that cuts carbon emissions 45% by 2030
City leaders repeatedly attributed the increases in ambition for its climate and equity goals to advocacy by a coalition of environmental groups including Ready for 100 Columbus, Sunrise Columbus, Green Columbus, Simply Living, and Columbus Stand Up! The initial draft of the Climate Action Plan, released in November 2020, called for reducing Columbus emissions only 25% by 2030. The coalition called for and got a city council hearing at which 30 people testified asking for more ambitious goals in most areas of the plan.
Columbus Underground - Environmental Advocates Push City to Align Climate Action Plan with Climate Science
A coalition of environmental groups including Ready for 100 Columbus, Sunrise Columbus, Green Columbus, and Simply Living asked for and got a city council hearing at which 30 people testified calling for more ambitious goals in the plan’s first draft. When the second draft was released, with a goal for reducing carbon emissions 36% by 2030, we posted a sign-on letter calling for additional increases in ambition to achieve a 45% emissions reduction. Over 100 people representing 27 organizations co-signed the letter. Now, after months of dialogue with Sustainable Columbus, we are elated to see a final CAP that sets a goal of reducing the city’s emissions to 45% by 2030 — putting us well on the path to net zero emissions by 2050. With this plan, Columbus will be doing its part to reduce global emissions — even more than the weak goals set by world leaders at the recent COP 26.
Labornotes - Viewpoint: Climate Justice Must Be a Top Priority for Labor
There are many organizations working to quickly transition from fossil fuels to renewables. Trade Unions for Energy Democracy and the Labor Network for Sustainability are two of the main labor-related forums. The Sunrise Movement and hundreds of other community- and state-based climate justice organizations are making headway by targeting politicians and polluters.
The Columbus Dispatch - ‘People don’t always see the connection’: Climate change group rallies for public transit
As dozens of cars buzzed along the downtown stretch of High Street, around 60 people gathered Saturday afternoon at the Ohio Statehouse to rally, march, chant, sing and advocate for more-accessible and eco-friendly public transit in the city and state. Organized by the Columbus hub of the Sunrise Movement, the “Columbus Rally for Public Transit and a Green Future” started and ended at the Statehouse with a march to Battelle Riverfront Park and U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown’s downtown office sandwiched in between.
Columbus Free Press - Ohioans Across State Rally for Expanded, Clean Public Transit
On Saturday, July 17th over 100 Ohioans in Columbus and Cincinnati rallied to demand that Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) back legislation to increase public transit service across the country. Participants, including members of youth-led climate organization Sunrise Movement and Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 1, called on Senator Brown to support the “Stronger Communities Through Better Transit Act.” The bill would provide $20 billion per year in federal funding for transit operations.
The Chronicle - Sunrise asks Brown to expand public transit funding
Public transportation should be cleaner, more available and, if possible, free. That was the message Wednesday when members of the youth organization Sunrise Oberlin and like-minded groups delivered more than 100 letters to the Cleveland office of U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown.