REFERENCE TITLE: climate change; urging Congress

State of Arizona

Senate

Fifty-fifth Legislature

First Regular Session

2021

SCM 1002

Introduced by

Senator Quezada

A concurrent MEMORIAL

urging the united states congress pass a green new deal.

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

To the Members of the United States Congress:

      Your memorialist respectfully represents:

Whereas, until recently, the State of Arizona was recognized as a leader on climate policy, establishing the nation's first ever renewable energy requirements for utility corporations; and

Whereas, in 2005, Governor Janet Napolitano signed Executive Order 2005-13, establishing a Climate Change Advisory Group that served as a model for other states to begin to address climate change; and

Whereas, in 2007, the State of Arizona entered into a first-of-its-kind alliance with other western states to tackle the unique challenges that climate change poses to the region; and

Whereas, the Climate Change Advisory Group has since been dismantled, and progress made toward addressing climate change in the State of Arizona has been largely reversed; and

Whereas, between 1990 and 2017, the State of Arizona increased its carbon dioxide emissions by 36.5 percent, which was the second largest increase among western states; and

Whereas, the National Climate Assessment has issued a report outlining the increased risk of extreme weather events, including wildfires, water scarcity, heat waves and flash floods; and

Whereas, the United Nations' Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change reports that climate scientists have high confidence that 1.5 degrees Celsius of warming will result in a greater number of severe heat waves on land; and

Whereas, temperatures in Maricopa County have risen by nearly 2 degrees Celsius since recordkeeping began in 1895; and

Whereas, the temperature in Phoenix exceeded 110 degrees Fahrenheit a record 53 days in 2020, beating the previous record of 33 days set in 2011 and cementing 2020 as the hottest year on record for the State of Arizona; and

Whereas, the number of deaths linked to heat in Arizona have risen sharply as temperatures have risen; and

Whereas, the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the green jobs sector is among the fastest growing sectors of the economy; and

Whereas, the median annual wage for careers in the green jobs sector exceeds the national average; and

Whereas, the COVID-19 pandemic has had severe consequences for the people of Arizona and this state's economy, and a healthy environment and green jobs are key to this state's economic recovery.

Wherefore your memorialist, the Senate of the State of Arizona, the House of Representatives concurring, prays:

1. That the United States Congress pass a Green New Deal that prioritizes careers in decarbonization and investments in working-class communities, low-income communities and communities of color, which historically have been disproportionately impacted by climate emergency and environmental injustice.

2. That the Secretary of State of the State of Arizona transmit copies of this Memorial to the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives and each Member of Congress from the State of Arizona.