Earlier this month, Austin became the first southern U.S. city to declare a climate emergency. During an August 8 press conference, several city council members and others from the community joined together to speak about the issue of climate change, as well as what the City of Austin could do moving forward. With raging fires in the Amazon making headlines across the globe, Austin City Manager Spencer Cronk continues his search for a Climate Resiliency Officer, who, when hired, could draw a salary as high as $150,000 a year.
Climate change has already been made into an issue of race and equity by some council members, including Greg Casar, whose district is predominantly non-white, 30-percent of whom are also reportedly in the country illegally.
“And it is those people who are going to suffer first, and who are suffering now, due to a lack of action, and a lack of calling this the emergency that it truly is,” Casar said.
Cronk has until May of 2020 to craft a new climate awareness campaign, and it’s possible his pick for the new Climate Resiliency Officer may be announced at that time. As far as the duties of that new position, they are still unclear. However, based on comments from city council members, it’s expected the new position would focus on things like mass transit and housing density.
Casar hopes Austin will become a beacon for those who may become displaced by climate issues.
“People may become climate refugees, and we need to continue to be the kind of welcoming community that we like to say that we are,” Casar said.
