Cities must declare climate

emergencies, as Oakland did

We are in the midst of climate breakdown as evidenced by the IPCC report and the Fourth National Climate Assessment (released on Black Friday by the climate-denying-Trump-administration).

Both reports are clear: California can expect wildfires to get worse as the planet warms and we go through extended periods of drought.

We cannot rely on the federal government to protect us from apocalyptic wildfires. Like Oakland, cities should declare climate emergencies and work to ameliorate the effects of climate change or we all risk becoming climate refugees like so many in California.

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Paola Tobias

San Jose

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