Austin City Council to Vote to Protect Pollinators, Ban other Dangerous Chemicals

Media Contacts
Bay Scoggin

TexPIRG

AUSTIN—Tomorrow, Austin City Council is planning on voting on an update to the integrated pest management plan. The update, sponsored by Councilwoman Alison Alter, would ban the use of a certain pesticide, called neonicotinoids, which have been linked to bee deaths.

The global population of bee colonies shrinks by 30-40% each and every year, but bees pollinate much of the food we depend on like apples, broccoli, coffee beans, and even chocolate. Further, bees pollinate one of the main foods that cows eat, alfalfa, which means we could struggle to produce meat and dairy products as well.

“I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to live in a world without coffee and chocolate,” says Bay Scoggin, TexPIRG State Director. “Bees are an important part of our food supply and ecosystem, and we need to protect them with common sense solutions like this one.”

The update to the pest management plan would also limit the use of glyphosate and chlorpyrifos on city lands, to chemicals linked to harmful health effects in humans.

“We thank Councilwoman Alter for her leadership on this issue,” says Bay Scoggin, TexPIRG State Director. “It’s good to know that with all the buzz surround this issue, someone important is listening.”