With Gov. Newsom’s position secure after his recent election success, elected officials across the state who supported him say that this is the critical time for a bold course of action to mitigate the apocalyptic fires and drought fueled by human caused climate crises.

During Climate Week, Elected Officials to Protect America – California , a consortium of elected officials from across CA who seek a 100 percent clean energy economy, held a press conference to ask Gov. Newsom publicly to declare a climate emergency. If the governor does he would be following the scientific recommendations of the authors in the stunning United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report.

The report spurred UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres to say, “This is a Code Red for humanity.” The climate crisis was also a major topic at this week’s U.N. General Assembly meeting in New York. Just last week, after another report found key nations are far behind the Paris Accord goals, Guterres added, “It’s time to read the alarm bell. We are on the verge of the abyss.”

The EOPA press event was inspired by Councilmember Koretz and called: Code Red California and meant to be a wakeup call for Governor Newsom to take immediate action to abate the effects of the climate crisis which would directly save lives and livelihoods.

“With our LA100 pathway to 100 percent renewable energy, Los Angeles is doing its part to prove true the promise those of us in the state legislature in 2006 made with AB-32, the Global Warming Solutions Act,” said Los Angeles City Councilmember Paul Koretz, EOPA California Leadership Council. “But we must do so much more, and quickly. We know how out of control the wildfires are up north. Here in Southern California, the Skirball Fire nearly burned down Bel Air, Woolsey burned much of Malibu and Agoura Hills, and Thomas blazed through both Ventura and Santa Barbara counties. We must declare Climate Code Red for California and mobilize all sectors toward a carbon neutral 2030 to do not only what’s possible, but to do what’s necessary to eliminate our climate emissions and make the impossible possible. The children who will be our ambassadors to 2100 have now been born. Let us look back with their eyes and ask again, every single day, if we are doing enough.”

About Los Angeles City Councilmember Paul Koretz:

Paul took the oath of office to begin his first term representing the 5th District in July of 2009. He was re-elected in 2013 and again in 2017. He served on the Budget & Finance Committee for over ten years, chaired the Audits and Government Efficiency Committee, and currently chairs the Personnel, Audits and Animal Welfare Committee.

During his years of elected service, Councilmember Koretz has always delivered on his commitment to governmental efficiency, transparency, accountability, and accessibility – principles that have guided his life of activism, service, and leadership.

Previously, Paul Koretz helped lead the effort to incorporate the new City of West Hollywood in 1984, establishing greater local accountability, constituent service, and control over planning. He served on the West Hollywood City Council from 1988-2000, leading key initiatives that boosted the city’s efficiency and accountability, promoted jobs and the local economy, protected renters and homeowners, championed civil, human, and animal rights, fought for environmental protection, and made West Hollywood a regional model for providing quality city services and city management.

In 2000, Koretz was elected to the California State Assembly, representing the 42nd Assembly District that included much of the City of L.A.’s 5th Council District. Assemblymember Koretz authored dozens of bills to protect workers and their families, to establish LGBTQ equality, and to provide life-saving public safety and health care measures, including legislation to reduce gun violence.

As a member of the Los Angeles City Council, Koretz champions working to solve our city’s long-time homelessness problem, improving fire safety, supporting law enforcement, battling climate change, conserving water, protecting our natural resources, maintaining human-scale in development, fighting Sacramento to keep local control of the planning process, and protecting animals from cruel practices. Councilmember Koretz has worked hard to ensure our streets are paved, our trees are trimmed, and our parks are maintained. He also created the ACE program for greater enforcement of quality of life issues.