We did it, together!

We are excited to share with you that yesterday afternoon the Prescott City Council approved moving forward with the Quad Cities Climate Risk Assessment, to be performed for free by CLIMAS, affiliated with the University of Arizona. The vote passed 7-0!

Words cannot express our profound appreciation for Prescott City Council leadership and for all of YOU who have supported the PROTECT Campaign and this grassroots movement since the kick-off event last July! It has been quite a journey to get to this important milestone!

The next step is to form a Working Group with representatives from the local government staff of all four Quad Cities' communities as well as other key stakeholders. This IS a regional assessment. The primary objective is to ensure that each community has the opportunity to provide input into the assessment process, particularly with respect to any particular data needs as well as review progress and draft reports. The formal assessment will be undertaken this summer and likely completed in early Fall.

The Assessment lays the "common ground" foundation for future local climate actions tailored to individual communities’ unique conditions and aspirations. We will continue those conversations this summer right alongside the Assessment study process.

In closing, the PROTECT Campaign has been based on the notion that engaged citizenry can make a difference on how we must care for, protect and restore the Earth, our planet, our common home. The Climate Risk Assessment is an investment in a sustainable future for our region. We close this announcement with a heartfelt thanks to all of you who have showed up, who have written LTEs and postcards, who have worked with your neighbors and your faith communities to raise awareness and solutions to this climate crisis. As the PROTECT Campaign slogan proclaims - "We are all in this together."

The PROTECT Steering Committee

May 25, 2022