You can make a difference in your town or your city, to the hurt being caused by climate chaos and the great extinction event! Reuse this information! This is the letter for week 14 of a weekly climate strike that went on for 4 years in front of San Francisco City Hall, beginning early March 2019. For more context, see this story. For an annotated table of contents to all the strike letters, see this story.
STRIKE FOR THE PLANET
because this is a timed test.
This week is an opportunity for SELF-ASSESSMENT.
The International Panel on Climate Change special report published in 2018 (over 6000 scientific works referenced and 91 authors) gives us until 2030 to get off fossil fuels or face an unlivable planet. The Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services summary released in 2019 (over 450 researchers, 145 authors, using nearly 15,000 scientific and government reports) describes the human-caused extinction event happening right now, the rapidly increasing rate of extinctions, and the breadth of on-going ecosystem destruction.
Salvaging a livable planet out of this mess requires action on larger scales: municipal, regional, state, national, and global. You are in a position to enact citywide changes that can impact the entire bay region, if not the state. Remember, there are 10 years and 6 months left (and that is a conservative number – more likely there’s much less time), so act now!
Time for the ECO QUIZ! Give yourself 1 point for every YES answer. Have you:
WATER
1. enacted legislation for 100% water recycling for all new construction in SF?
2. pushed enforcement of permeable surfaces on all lots in SF?
3. contacted Governor Newsom to fight against any Delta tunnels or diversions?
4. established rain gardens throughout SF?
5. started aggressively rebuilding shore ecosystems around SF?
IDEAS
6. conducted any solution brainstorming sessions in City Hall?
7. established solution brainstorming sessions with regional scientists and environmentalists?
8. solicited ideas for better resource management from all SF city employees?
CARBON
9. pushed zoning changes to create an urban forest in SF?
10. legislated for only organic, permaculture, and regenerative planting practices in SF?
11. created wildlife, native plant, and native pollinator gardens throughout SF?
12. zoned for rooftop gardens?
13. required sidewalk plantings?
14. started the process to quickly bring to the surface all creeks and rivers in SF?
15. worked to restore and extend all historic marshlands in SF?
16. instituted a replacement assistance program for fireplaces in homes heated by wood burning?
17. begun the complete phase out of all diesel and fossil fuel engines/motors owned or operated by SF city and county?
RECYCLING
18. developed a framework to establish artisanal recycling in SF?
19. required SF purchase only modular electronics with guaranteed in-state recycling?
20. pushed for cradle to cradle designation for all goods purchased and produced in SF?
21. worked to reduce and eliminate all plastic use in SF?
22. required clear recycling information for all materials used or created in SF?
ELEVATION
23. initiated plans for moving SF’s infrastructure to above 200 ft. elevation?
24. rezoned all residential areas above 200 ft. for dense multi-unit buildings?
25. begun developing plans to deal with flood refugees in SF?
PLANTING
26. outlawed all burning of biomass in SF?
27. legislated the creation of city-wide planted bioswales?
28. expanded the number, proximity, density, and native planting of SF parks?
29. started aggressively rebuilding shore ecosystems around SF –important enough to list twice.
TRANSPORTATION
30. implemented permanent closure of roads to private car traffic?
31. fined all rideshare rides the equivalent of one MUNI fare per passenger per ride?
32. aggressively built bike lanes everywhere?
33. lengthened all pedestrian crossing times?
34. eliminated all intersection parking for sunlighting and bulb outs?
35. banned all non-electric vehicles from neighborhoods with high asthma rates?
36. built electric car charging stations in every neighborhood?
37. begun ticketing car drivers for parking in bike lanes, and running red lights and stop signs?
38. finished converting the entire MUNI fleet to all electric?
THE PLANET
39. defined the biggest current, 2 yr, 5 yr, 10 yr, 20 yr, and 50 yr threats to SF’s continued existence?
40. begun developing strategies to meet these threats?
INSECTS
41. implemented nighttime lights out and lights down throughout SF?
42. planted natives all over SF?
43. eliminated all astroturf in SF?
MONEY
44. divested all SF funds from fossil fuel and ecosystem-destroying companies and funds?
45. invested in greening our infrastructure?
SF’S COASTLINE
46. begun planning for SF’s retreat from the coasts as they flood?
47. legislated for all roads, sidewalks, and other ground level surfaces to be permeable?
LIGHT
48. mandated all interior building lights be off when people are not inside?
49. reduced exterior lights to those necessary for aircraft safety only, with exceptions with annual time limits for holidays, public art, and public events?
50. changed the focus, color range, timing, and energy draw of all street lighting?
51. required all new, replaced, repaired, or resurfaced pavements and roofs to be high albedo, with exceptions for living roofs?
FINANCIAL RISK
52. reduced the 20- and 30-year bond repayment risk to SF caused by climate chaos?
53. prepared for climate-related lawsuits against SF for failure to act responsibly?
54. conducted risk assessments and financial exposure stress tests for SF regarding climate chaos?
55. established building codes for climate chaos?
56. joined the Network for Greening the Financial System?
What is your total number of YES answers? If you scored:
0-11 You want to live on Venus
where the mean surface temperature is 864°F and it rains sulfuric acid.
12-22 You really are into Waterworld
where there’s little food or fresh water, and most everything is dead.
23-33 You long for a world like Twister
where superstorms and destruction are the norm 24/7/365.
34-44 You’re working for Carbon Diaries 2015 and Carbon Diaries 2017
where things are unsolved and falling apart slower, but people are trying.
45-56 You’re ready for eaarth
a more difficult, more hostile planet but possibly inhabitable long-term.
Don’t like the outcome range? Sorry, that’s the best available since we’ve put off acting for so long. Don’t like your score? All you have to do to score higher is change some of those NO answers to YES. You know what you need to do.
Remember, this is only the first part of the full test. And the clock’s ticking….
Lloyd, Saci. The Carbon Diaries: 2015. New York: Holiday House, 2010.
Lloyd, Saci. The Carbon Diaries: 2017. New York: Holiday House, 2011.
McKibben, Bill. eaarth. New York: Henry Hold and Company, 2010.
Twister. de Bont, Jan. Universal Pictures, 1996.
Waterworld. Reynolds, Kevin. Universal Pictures, 1995.