KALAMAZOO, MI — The city of Kalamazoo has approved a resolution to declare a climate emergency, supporting the development of a city climate action plan with aggressive and measurable goals.

The city considered the resolution at its Monday, Oct. 21, meeting and voted to approve it unanimously after hearing from several citizens.

Two people in the back of the room held sign that reading, “Act as if your house is on fire” as commissioners talked about the action item. Others held posters supporting the climate change action.

Commissioner Don Cooney said the issue is a crisis, and actions are needed to look out for young people, creatures, and “for all of us."

Vice Mayor Erin Knott it cant be just liberal Kalamazoo city taking the action. “We’ve gotta get everybody on board, and I’d be happy to help you with those actions," she said.

The approved resolution states that the “formal Declaration of a Climate Emergency by the City of Kalamazoo is the critical and courageous first step in laying the foundation to address the climate crisis.”

The resolution was drafted after the Kalamazoo Climate Crisis Coalition (KCCC) petitioned the city of Kalamazoo Environmental Concerns Committee (ECC), requesting the ECC recommend that the Kalamazoo City Commission adopt a resolution declaring a climate emergency.

ECC members voted unanimously to support the drafting and vetting of a resolution document specific to the City of Kalamazoo with a final consideration of that document at the Sept. 18 ECC meeting.

ECC members and the KCCC collaborated on drafting a resolution, and after gathering additional input, ECC members voted unanimously to approve the resolution language and to recommend adoption of the resolution by the Kalamazoo City Commission.

The resolution states a climate emergency threatens “our citizens, city, region, state, and the natural world.”

The declaration is meant to affirm existing commitments and further support city staff in current efforts to develop a climate action plan that recognizes the climate emergency and set aggressive measurable goals and effective implementation.

It states the city accepts a role of regional leadership, and will seek partnerships with other regional entities to best utilize regional expertise and resources to meet shared goals.

The proposal states the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, a body of the United Nations, calls for urgent and decisive actions by governments around the world to make “rapid, far-reaching and unprecedented changes in all aspects of society” in order to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius to avoid the most disastrous impacts.

The proposal states impacts of climate change are visible in Southwest Michigan, from flooding of streets and homes, power outages, and heat waves.

“Farmers cannot plant or delay planting due to flooded fields. Record low temperatures with snow and ice close schools and businesses. Moreover, these economic and environmental hardships disproportionately affect the most vulnerable citizens of Kalamazoo...” the resolution states.

More than 1,000 local governments in 18 countries have signed emergency declarations, the resolution states.