Honorable Mayor Taylor and City Council Members, I am a member of the EQC but write on my own behalf today. Thank you for your leadership on climate action. This is to ask that you support the proposed Climate Action Plan and goal for Zero Carbon emissions by 2030 - and especially the CAP's annual gasoline sales reduction goal. Why is the gasoline reduction goal so important? Burning gasoline is by far Menlo Park's biggest source of carbon emissions, estimated by the city at 55.8% of the total as of 2017. Gasoline reduction is the only transportation metric that really matters for climate - if our transportation measures aren't resulting in a reduction in gasoline sales, we're not having the necessary impact on climate. We must reduce the amount of gasoline pumped within our borders to meet our climate goals, and we should be clear about our intention to do so. Tracking gasoline sales also helps us assess the impact of our transportation greenhouse gas reduction measures such as expanding access to EV charging, increasing housing density, and improving pedestrian and bike access. It helps us to see if our strategies ultimately aimed at displacing gasoline are working, so that we can refine them if they are not. Once the city sets a goal, Menlo Park residents will rise to the challenge. We rallied to reduce water use during the drought. We can rally to reduce gasoline use in this climate crisis. But for gasoline reduction to occur at top speed, the city must set it as a goal. If Menlo Park leads the way, other cities will also set gasoline reduction goals. Then as a region we'll be able to see where the most gasoline is being sold, and focus gasoline displacement strategies in those areas Through its leadership, Menlo Park can thereby make an outsize contribution to combatting climate change. Setting a gasoline reduction goal costs the city nothing, but moves the needle on climate. We would be one of the first cities to honestly communicate to our residents the clear need to slash gasoline use immediately. Not everyone can afford to buy or lease a new electric car, but everyone can work to cut their use of gasoline. Please adopt the full Climate Action Plan, and especially the gasoline sales reduction goal. Thanks again for your continued leadership on climate. Sincerely, Janelle London Received on Mon Jul 13 2020 - 17:12:08 PDT
