HOUSTON – Thursday marks the 51st annual Earth Day, and changemakers are working to save and restore our planet’s rich biodiversity. World and city leaders across the world spoke about the climate change battle.
On Thursday, Mayor Sylvester Turner attended the grand opening of Greentown Labs Houston Incubator on San Jacinto Street.
Greentown Labs is accelerating the clean energy transition in the Energy Capital of the World.
Turner also spoke about the cities Climate Action Plan.
“This past year has been incredibly challenging for all of us,” he said. “From the novel coronavirus pandemic to historic floods and a winter freeze, Houston’s economy has seen it all.”
Turner said the city is making great strides through the Climate Action Plan that launched a year ago.
“The energy capital of the world has a moral obligation to reduce carbon emissions, and by doing so it will reduce the severity and frequency of future storms and heat waves and lessen their impact on the most vulnerable areas in our communities,” he said.
Stephanie Thomas with Public Citizen of Houston shared her concerns about the climate plan.
“So many things that have arisen during the last year that are that are connected in ways to climate change and are impacting our communities, and also every time these disasters happen, it has a tendency to set things back,” Thomas said.
On Thursday, Greentown labs expanded their organization in Houston. The company showcased the cities first-ever climate tech and cleantech startup incubator.
“We have the potential to decarbonize Houston and cities across the planet and create local jobs in the process, but for the need and the reason we need to invest in our innovation ecosystem and support the climate tech entrepreneurs,” Turner said