May 14, 2021
To: Beloit City Council
The League of Women Voters of Beloit celebrates the decision of the Beloit City Council to issue its March 15 proclamation supporting carbon neutrality for Beloit by 2040. The League and its Environmental Sustainability Committee encourage the Council to move from proclamation to action by including this important issue in its strategic planning for the future. This is in line with national League and Wisconsin League positions on environmental sustainability and climate change.
As Council members know, climate change is an existential threat to communities and their residents. Climate change not only affects quality of life, but livelihoods, agriculture, and industry. Failure to understand the causes of climate change, what is at stake, and what can be done now to reduce harm to the planet will result in exceedingly high and potentially irreversible damage.
Action to reduce the carbon emissions contributing to climate change – or more accurately, climate crisis - must take place at international, national, state, and local levels.
The League of Women Voters of Beloit invites the City Council to see it as a partner in moving toward carbon neutrality. It will also be critical to engage community members and stakeholders from non-profit, private, governmental sectors. Further, the process should take into consideration Beloit’s assets and how they might contribute.
On behalf of the League of Women Voters of Beloit,
Susan Adams, President
703 Milwaukee Road
Beloit, WI 53511
Elizabeth Brewer, Co-Chair, Environmental Sustainability Committee
742 Harrison Avenue
Beloit, WI 53511
Brenda Plakans, Co-Chair, Environmental Sustainability Committee
2111 E. Ridge Road
Beloit, WI 53511