100 signatures reached
To: Mayor Chris Coleman
Divest Saint Paul From Fossil Fuels!
The city of Saint Paul should immediately call on, and use its influence to, persuade other large institutions such as universities, religious organizations, and businesses around the metro area to divest in fossil fuels and reinvest in projects that create local jobs and support sustainable energy like community solar. The city of Saint Paul should be working to further invest into local renewable energy projects that create local jobs and work towards energy independence within the next 15-20 years.
While the city does not have direct investment in fossil fuels because of the risk tolerance rules of the city, it is not doing enough to incentivize institutions to implement renewable energies like community solar or encourage divestment from fossil fuels.
75% of individual homes are not suitable for solar panels on their roofs, either because of the structure of the house or the residents are renters. It is time for large organizations to make changes that will have the huge impact on climate change that is just not as possible on an individual level.
Why is this important?
As the most "Livable City in America" our local government has a responsibility to encourage divestment from an industry that’s destroying our future, and reinvest in solutions to climate change and create an energy independent city.
We can not count on the federal government, even as extreme weather events like the record rain fall in the Duluth area last Spring overwhelm local budgets. We have the solutions, but we won’t see any political progress on the issue until we can weaken the power of the fossil fuel industry.
The bottom line is this: divestment is the only moral choice for governments and institution's that care about their citizens, patrons, students, or congregations. Solving the climate crisis is the only practical choice for governments and other large institutions that care about their solvency. Let Saint Paul lead the way with cities like San Francisco and Seattle to end our climate crisis.