Momentum Builds for Charlottesville to Lead on Climate with Carbon Neutrality Goal by 2050

(This press release was published at 7:35AM on March 20, 2019).

Momentum is building this week for adoption of a bold, leadership-level emissions reduction goal for our community. Citizens, businesses, and schools are taking the lead in asking the City and County to take bold action on climate. In letters address to Charlottesville City Council and the Albemarle County Board of Supervisors, the groups asked local governments to embrace a community-wide climate goal of 45% greenhouse gas emissions reductions by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2050, which is in line with the latest science and most recent report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.  These targets would make the City Charlottesville and Albemarle County the first localities in the Commonwealth to set a goal of carbon neutrality.

Letters were submitted on behalf of:

Citizens: 827 City and County residents signed on (422 City and 405 County);

Independent Schools: The Field School, The International School, Peabody School, Renaissance School, Tandem Friends School, Village School, and Waldorf Schools of Charlottesville;

Businesses and Nonprofits: 41 organizations representing nearly 3,000 employees including the Sentara Martha Jefferson Hospital, the United Way-Thomas Jefferson Area, the CFA Institute, Carter Myers Automotive, MichieHamlett law firm, Legal Aid Justice Center, and Champion Brewery (see attached list).

“It’s time for Charlottesville and Albemarle County to lead on this issue.  As business leaders we know we have an important role to play in reducing emissions and many companies are already taking individual actions,” Vice-President of Carter Myers Automotive said. “This letter lets the City and County know that we, along with 40 other local businesses, support ambitious targets and common-sense policies that accelerate climate actions across the community.”

“At Tandem Friends School, we believe that addressing climate change is something we must do to protect our future and our children's future.  We can all do our part as individuals and as members of our community to make the world a better place.  We believe that our government can and should help lead the way,” Christine Putnam, 7th/8th grade Science Teacher at Tandem Friends School, said.

Susan Kruse, Executive Director of the Charlottesville Climate Collaborative presented the three letters to Susan Elliott Monday, March 18th in front of City Hall after the first public comment period ended on Sunday evening.  Signatures were collected over a one-month period.

On Wednesday, Pete Borches, Vice-President of Carter Myers Automotive, along with Amy Lastinger, 4th/5th grade Environmental Science Teacher at Peabody School, will present the letters from businesses, citizens, and schools to the Albemarle Board of Supervisors during the public comment period. The scheduled regular meeting begins at 1PM and local media is encouraged to attend.

Copies of the business letter, the school letter, and citizen letter can be found on C3’s website.

More About C3

The Charlottesville Climate Collaborative aims to elevate local climate action with a broad, inclusive, and cross-sector approach. C3 runs two programs to help people and organizations reduce their carbon footprint. The Home Energy Challenge and the Better Business Challenge provide climate solutions that are practical, tangible, and quantifiable for the whole community.