High school and college students from the area involved with the group iMatter, a national climate change organization founded by a 13 year old in 2007, have assessed the City of Champaign on their actions related to greenhouse gas emissions. They did a similar assessment of the City of Urbana last year, which we wrote about here. Since that time, the group helped pass the Climate Inheritance Resolution, committing the city to working towards the goals of 100% renewable electricity by 2025 and net zero emissions by 2040.
Local students representing iMatter will be presenting their findings during the public comment period at next week’s Champaign City Council meeting.
From the press release:
Youth Call for Immediate Action to Protect their Future From the Impacts of Climate Change
Champaign, IL – May 2, 2017 – Youth from Centennial, University Laboratory High School, and the University of Illinois will speak in the public comments section of the Champaign city council meeting on May 8th to present the Youth Climate Report Card for Champaign. The Report Card is a science-based tool developed by iMatter that measures how well a city is doing at reducing greenhouse gas emissions to the levels needed to protect the youngest generation from the worst effects of the climate crisis.
“Climate change will affect my generation the most so it’s really important to me that we address it now,” said Annette Lee, a junior at University Laboratory High School.
Champaign does not currently have a plan to reduce carbon emissions. After evaluating the city’s progress and comparing it to what leading climate scientists say cities need to do, the students gave Champaign a D and say there’s still work to be done.
