Miami-Dade Democratic Party passes resolution in support of the Green New Deal

Miami-Dade Democratic Party RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF THE GREEN NEW DEAL

Passed by the Miami-Dade Democratic Environmental Caucus/Issues Committee Environmental Working Group on February 20, 2019

Endorsed by the Kendall Democrats on March 20, 2019

Passed by Issues Committee on March 25, 2019

Passed by Steering Committee on April 1st, 2019

Passed by Executive Committee on April 8th, 2019

The Executive Committee of the Miami-Dade Democratic Party (the “Party”) resolves at its meeting of April 8, 2019, to adopt the Resolution in Support of the Green New Deal substantially as adopted and put forward by the Miami-Dade Democratic Environmental Caucus, which at its regular meeting on February 2019, resolved to actively support the Green New Deal legislation; to convey their gratitude and respect to Representative Debbie Mucarsel-Powell for her leadership and support of the Green New Deal and, to call upon all elected officials with constituents in Miami-Dade County to support the resolutions and the goals upon which they are based.

Whereas climate change and the resulting sea level rise is an existential threat to South Florida’s environment, human and non-human life, and its economy; and,
Whereas climate change and sea level rise already threaten South Florida’s drinking water, property values, and tax base; lead to more and deadlier hurricanes and displace poor and vulnerable communities due to climate gentrification; flood our streets; batter our already-fragile and insufficient infrastructure, and will render much of our area uninhabitable; and,
Whereas poor and vulnerable communities would be served by policies that ensure a just transition to a zero-carbon future; and,
Whereas, the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has determined that in order to avoid the most severe impacts of a changing climate the world must cut greenhouse gas emissions from human sources in half by 2030 and achieve net-zero global emissions by 2050; and,
Whereas, the Trump Administration and the Republican Party have not only renounced the national commitment to the Paris Accord but are actively and openly working to increase our reliance on fossil fuels and our emissions of greenhouse gases; and,
Whereas, congressional Democrats have introduced legislation in recognition of the fact that meeting our commitments and becoming a leader in the fight to slow anthropogenic climate change will take nothing less than a “Green New Deal.”

We therefore resolve that the Caucus actively supports the Green New Deal and urges all of our elected representatives, candidates for office, and members of the public to support the passage of the resolutions and otherwise endeavor to achieve the core goals they set out, including:

building resiliency and repairing and upgrading infrastructure, including substantial investment in community-defined projects, in order to reduce the risks posed by climate impacts, eliminate greenhouse gas emissions to the degree possible and guarantee universal access to clean water; and;
expanding and upgrading renewable power sources to meet 100 percent of American power demand through zero-emission energy sources;
building an energy-efficient, distributed, and “smart” power grid, and ensuring affordable access to electricity;
ensuring that buildings in the United States maximize energy and water efficiency;
spurring massive growth in clean manufacturing in the United States and reducing industrial emissions to the extent technologically feasible;
working with farmers and ranchers to reduce emissions from the agricultural sector to the extent technologically feasible, including by supporting sustainable and family farming and land use practices and a food system that ensures universal access to healthy food;
overhauling transportation systems to reduce emissions from the transportation sector to the extent technologically feasible, including investments in zero-emission vehicle infrastructure and manufacturing, accessible public transit and high-speed rail;
mitigating and managing the health, economic, and other effects of pollution and climate change, including by providing funding for community-defined projects;
removing greenhouse gases from the atmosphere by restoring natural ecosystems, land preservation and afforestation;
restoring and protecting threatened, endangered, and fragile ecosystems
cleaning up and ensuring economic development and sustainability on existing hazardous waste sites; and,
promoting the international exchange of technology, expertise, products, funding, and services, with the aim of making the United States the international leader on climate action, and to help other countries achieve a Green New Deal;

Further, we acknowledge, with gratitude and respect, the environmental leadership shown by Representative Debbie Mucarsel-Powell for her leadership in supporting the Green New Deal.

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