HomeMy WebLinkAbout45-06 • •
RESOLUTION NO. 45-06
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL
OF THE TOWN OF LOS ALTOS HILLS ENDORSING
THE U.S..MAYORS CLIMATE PROTECTION AGREEMENT
WHEREAS, the U.S. Conference of Mayors has previously adopted strong
policy resolutions calling for cities, communities and the federal government to take
action to reduce global warming pollution; and
WHEREAS, the Inter-Governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the
international community's most respected assemblage of scientists,has found that
climate disruption is a reality and that human activities are largely responsible for
increasing concentrations of global warming pollution; and
WHEREAS, recent,well-documented impacts of climate disruption include average
global sea level increases of four to eight inches during the 20th century; a 40 percent decline in
Artie sea-ice thickness; and nine of the ten hottest years on record occurring in the past decade;
and
WHEREAS, climate disruption of the magnitude now predicted by the
scientific community will cause extremely costly disruption of human and natural
systems throughout the world including: increased risk of floods or droughts; sea-level
rises that interact with coastal storms to erode beaches, inundate land, and damage
structures; more frequent and extreme heat waves;more frequent and greater
concentrations of smog; and
WHEREAS, on February 16, 2005,the Kyoto Protocol, an international
agreement to address climate disruption, went into effect in the 141 countries that have
ratified it to date; 38 of those countries are now legally required to reduce greenhouse gas
emissions on average 5.2 percent below 1990 levels by 2012; and
WHEREAS, the United States of America,with less than five percent of the
world's population, is responsible for producing approximately 25 percent of the world's
global warming pollutants; and
WHEREAS, the Kyoto Protocol emissions reduction target for the U.S. would
have been 7 percent below 1990 levels by 2012; and
WHEREAS, many leading US companies that have adopted greenhouse gas
reduction programs to demonstrate corporate social responsibility have also publicly
expressed preference for the US to adopt precise and mandatory emissions targets and
timetables as a means by which to remain competitive in the international marketplace,to
mitigate financial risk and to promote sound investment decisions; and
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WHEREAS, state and local governments throughout the United States are
adopting emission reduction targets and programs and that this leadership is bipartisan,
coming from Republican and Democratic governors and mayors alike; and
WHEREAS, many cities throughout the nation,both large and small, are
reducing global warming pollutants through programs that provide economic and quality
of life benefits such as reduced energy bills, green space preservation, air quality
improvements,reduced traffic congestion, improved transportation choices, and
economic development and job creation through energy conservation and new energy
technologies; and
WHEREAS, mayors from around the nation have signed the U.S. Mayors
Climate Protection Agreement which, as amended at the 73rd Annual U.S. Conference of
Mayors meeting, reads:
THE U.S. MAYORS CLIMATE PROTECTION AGREEMENT
A. We urge the federal government and state governments to enact policies and
programs to meet or beat the target of reducing global warming pollution
levels to 7 percent below 1990 levels by 2012, including efforts to: reduce the
United States' dependence on fossil fuels and accelerate the development of
clean, economical energy resources and fuel-efficient technologies such as
conservation,methane recovery for energy generation,waste to energy,wind
and solar energy, fuel cells, efficient motor vehicles, and biofuels;
B. We urge the U.S. Congress to pass bipartisan greenhouse gas reduction
legislation that includes 1) clear timetables and emissions limits and 2) a
flexible,market-based system of tradable allowances among emitting
industries; and
C. We will strive to meet or exceed Kyoto Protocol targets for reducing global
warming pollution by taking actions in our own operations and communities
such as:
1. Inventory global warming emissions in City operations and in the
community set reduction targets and create an action plan;
2. Adopt and enforce land-use policies that reduce sprawl,preserve open
space, and create compact walkable urban communities;
3. Promote transportation options such as bicycle trails, commute trip
reduction programs, incentives for car pooling and public transit;
4. Increase the use of clean, alternative energy by,for example, investing
in"green tags", advocating for the development of renewable energy
resources,recovering landfill methane for energy production, and
supporting the use of waste to energy technology;
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5. Make energy efficiency a priority through building code
improvements,retrofitting city facilities with energy efficient lighting
and urging employees to conserve energy and save money;
6. Purchase only Energy Star equipment and appliances for City use;
7. Practice and promote sustainable building practices using the U.S.
Green Building Council's LEED program or a similar system;
8. Increase the average fuel efficiency of municipal fleet vehicles';
reduce the number of vehicles; launch an employee education program
including anti-idling messages; convert diesel vehicles to bio-diesel;
9. Evaluate opportunities to increase pump efficiency in water and
wastewater systems; recover wastewater treatment methane for energy
production;
10. Increase recycling rates in City operations and in the community;
11. Maintain healthy urban forests; promote tree planting to increase
shading and to absorb CO2; and
12. Help educate the public, schools, other jurisdictions,professional
associations, business and industry about reducing global warming
pollution.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the U.S. Conference of Mayors
endorses the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement as amended by the 73rd annual
U.S. Mayors meeting.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the City Council of the Town of Los Altos
Hills agrees in concept to the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement as amended by
the 73rd annual U.S. Mayors meeting and agrees to join this important effort.
Regularly passed and adopted this 8th day of June,A06
By:
Ma reene Kerr
ATTES :
City Clerk