<
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/apr/09/berkeley-natural-gas-ban-lawsuit-repeal>
"Four years ago, Berkeley made history when it became the first city in the US
to ban natural gas hookups in new buildings.
It was a natural step for the famously progressive California community, which
was an early adopter of curbside recycling in the 1970s, banned styrofoam in
1988, and more recently led the charge to outlaw single-use packaging and
plastics.
But today the ban is dead in the water, after a lawsuit brought by a restaurant
trade group challenged its legality, tying the ban’s enforcement up in court
for years. Last month, the city finally gave in and began the process of
repealing it.
For a moment, the news appeared devastating for efforts to transition away from
fossil fuels. But even without the historic ban, local climate advocates and
restaurant owners are imagining ways Berkeley could still lead a national push
to transition away from natural gas, amid growing public awareness of its harms
to both the climate and human health.
Alastair Iles, a professor of sustainability transitions at the University of
California, Berkeley, remembers how community groups rallied with local
legislators to introduce and pass the ban. “Communities and activists around
the city identified very closely with the ban’s successful passing, and saw it
as a sign that the city is continuing to tackle the challenge of climate
change.”
He said these groups aren’t giving up hope that Berkeley can still set an
example. “From what I have heard, they are upset, sad, and disheartened that
the ban has been overturned,” said Iles. “But they also know that there are
alternative ways forward.”"
We have a gas ban for new houses here in the state of Victoria, and of course
conservatives and the fossil fuel industry are making a big fuss over it.
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
