Flagstaff Urges Congress To Take Action On Climate Change

By Lillian Donahue
Published: Monday, September 11, 2017 - 10:23am
Updated: Monday, November 6, 2017 - 12:09pm

Flagstaff is sending a message to Congress calling for climate change action. And council members hope other Arizona cities will follow suit.

In a unanimous decision last week, the Flagstaff City Council passed a resolution calling for a carbon tax, making it more expensive to pollute.

Flagstaff Mayor Coral Evans said she supported the resolution.

“I think that change starts at the grassroots level, and I think that we need to put action behind our words,” Evans said.

Flagstaff joins other cities around the country urging federal action on climate change.

“The effort really is to take this collective voice of communities that has passed this resolution to the fed level to say we are committed to this,” said Nicole Woodman, Sustainability Manager of the City of Flagstaff.

In the midst of devastating hurricanes and record breaking heat waves, council woman Eva Putzova feels there’s no better time to take action in protecting the environment.

“I feel a responsibility as a council member, as a citizen of this country and this world, but also a citizen of this planet, to act and do the best that we can to ensure that future generations have a life worth living,” Putzova said.

City officials also said they hope Flagstaff can be a leader for other Arizona communities.

Science Sustainability