Dear Mayor Mendenhall,

Climate change is accelerating at a terrifying rate. In the past year alone, our planet experienced record-breaking heat waves, droughts, and hurricanes, which impacted hundreds of thousands of people and cost hundreds of billions of dollars. The scientific consensus around the world is clear and overwhelming: we must keep fossil fuels in the ground to avoid further global warming.

We call on you to divest the city of Salt Lake City from direct ownership of fossil fuel companies and any funds that include fossil-fuel public equities and corporate bonds. We believe such action is necessary not only for the health of our planet, but also for the wellbeing of young people and future generations, who deserve a future that is not defined by environmental degradation. Lots of other cities have already done it, such as New York City, San Francisco and Seattle— and Salt Lake City could be next. Make Salt Lake City a leader in environmentally responsible investment.