Climate change is the biggest challenge our world has ever faced. The teens of Chapel Hill DEMAND that our Town Council takes speedy and decisive action on this issue. The Town must approve and follow closely a strong and ambitious Climate Action Plan.

ACTIONS YOU CAN TAKE:

1. SIGN this petition to add your name to a letter to Town Council expressing support for a strong climate response
2. REGISTER for and ATTEND the Town Council's meeting on Chapel Hill's Climate Action Plan on Wednesday, January 27th at 7pm to show Town Council that teens are SERIOUS about this issue. (link to register: https://www.chyc.fyi/meeting ) At the meeting, change your Zoom name to show that you are a young person (i.e. NAME, age)
3. If you are passionate about climate change, SPEAK at the Town Council's 1/27 meeting and urge them to take strong action. Each person is given a maximum of 3 minutes to make their verbal comments. Indicate that you are interested in speaking by checking the box on the Zoom registration form linked above (you can edit the form even after registering). When it's time for you to speak, the Town Clerk will unmute you. 

Fossil-fueled transportation is the single biggest source of greenhouse gas emissions. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, vehicle miles traveled (the distances people drive) are driven primarily by local land use decisions. By acting aggressively to promote compact, mixed-use development which brings living spaces closer to work and retail spaces, the Town Council can minimize vehicle miles traveled in our town, making great reductions in our carbon footprint. While it may sound counterintuitive, compact, mixed-use developments such as those found downtown and in the Blue Hill District are much better for the environment than single-family home neighborhoods, because denser development disturbs less land overall than large neighborhoods and because denser development allows people to drive less. 

LINK to article: https://www.fastcompany.com/3067567/density-is-the-best-way-to-reduce-a-citys-carbon-footprint

The teens of Chapel Hill recognize that it is IMPERATIVE that Chapel Hill stops urban sprawl by becoming a compact community. We demand that our Town Council promote denser development to protect the the town and the world we love from climate change.

NOTE: By signing this petition, you are adding your signature (name) to a letter which will be sent to the Chapel Hill Town Council supporting the comments of the Chapel Hill City Planning Commission on the town's draft Climate Action and Response Plan, comments which call for compact, mixed-use development and strong public transportation systems to combat climate change and protect the future of our town.