Reno-Tahoe Climate Marchers Happy to Have Raised Awareness for Paris Climate Action

Supporters of action on climate change took to public venues and social media throughout Thanksgiving weekend about the need for bold global action at the Paris Climate Talks.

Activists from organizations including the Sierra Club, Peoples Climate Movement, Avaaz and others took part in public Sunday strolls and rallies at two key venues, the Reno-Tahoe International Airport and public sidewalks near Meadowood Mall, as part of global climate actions coordinated by 350.org.

“It’s time for our world leaders to get serious about the dangers that climate change pose for the health and safety of billions of people across the globe, let alone animal species as well,” said Janette Dean, environmental policy advocate and Sierra Club volunteer. “"To have a shot at stabilizing global temperatures, we must transition away from fossil fuels faster and shut high polluting coal-fired power plants like North Valmy here in Nevada sooner. With the enormous solar and geothermal resources we are so privileged to have here, Nevada can and needs to be a stronger leader by example in developing more clean energy. We should also be increasing energy efficiency more rapidly because it can most immediately reduce carbon emissions.”

With world leaders meeting in Paris through December 11 for the biggest ever U.N. conference on climate, we need stronger signals that the age of fossil fuels is coming to an end. So far, however, commitments from world governments just aren’t adding up — even after the two hottest years in history, and at a moment when renewable energy is becoming a revolutionary economic force that could power a just transition away from fossil fuels.

The solutions are obvious: we need to keep at least 80% of fossil fuels in the ground, finance a just transition to 100% renewable energy, and make sure communities on the front lines of climate change have the resources they need to respond to the crisis. This could be a turning point — if we push for it.

Along with enormous energy savings that better energy efficiency can provide, Nevada has the greatest solar resources of any state in the country (Source 1), significant geothermal resources, and plenty of wind energy potential, too. Despite this, nearly 90% of the energy Nevada consumes comes from outside our state (Source 2). Nevada therefore can and should move away from fossil fuels through broader energy efficiency measures and increased renewable energy development in our own state. We should also accelerate closure of the North Valmy coal plant (between Battle Mountain and Elko) from 2025 to no later than 2020. We should also keep up the pressure on Newmont Mining to shut down its TS Power Plant which sends excess coal energy to our grid. Coal energy currently makes up about 1/3 of the energy input for Reno residents and 1/4 for Northern Nevada.

Reno Climate March Video (begins at 20 seconds in after a promotion for a local music band): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gdTJGR5wI0Y&feature=youtu.be&t=20

Sources:

1 Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC). “Renewable Energy For America: Harvesting the Benefits of Homegrown Renewable Energy” http://www.nrdc.org/energy/renewables/nevada.asp

2 U.S. Energy Information Agency. (Nov. 19, 2015). “Nevada State Profile and Energy Estimates: Profile Overview” http://www.eia.gov/state/?sid=NV