07-10006r
RESOLUTION NO.1 0006
RESOLUTION ENDORSING THE U.S. MA VORS 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 actions 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 Arctic sea-ice thickness; and nine of the ten hottest years on records 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 wavers; 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 countnes are now legally required to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
on average 5.2 percent below 1990 levels by 2012; and
WHEREAS, the U.S., with less than 5 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 U.S. companies that have adopted greenhouse gas
reduction programs to demonstrate corporate social responsibility have also publicly
expressed preference for the U.S. 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
WHEREAS, state and local governments throughout the U.S. 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 improvement,
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 by2012, including efforts to: reduce the U.S.'s
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 ~oto~ 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 ~Iobal warming emissions in city operations and in the community,
set reduction targets and create an action plan;
2. Adopt and enforce land-use policies thatreduce 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 ofcl~an, 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;
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 mon~y;
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;
1 O.lncrease recycling rates in city operations and in the community; -
11. Maintain healthy urban forests; promote tree planting to increase shading
and to absorb C02; 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 City of Richfield, Minnesota
endorses the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement as amended by the 73rd Annual
U.S. Conference of Mayors meeting and urges mayors from around the nation to join this
effort.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, the City of Richfield, Minnesota will work in _
conjunction with ICLEI Local Governments for Sustainability and other appropriate
organizations to ,track progress and implementation of the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection
Agreement as amended by the 73rd Annual U.S. Conference of Mayors meeting.
Adopted by the City Council of the City of Richfi Minnesota ~ ~3t~'~ o. f
November, 2007. / ~..
oette, ayor
~
ancy . i s, cff~
The U.S. Conference of Mayors Climate Protection Agreement - Signature Page
You have my support for the Mayors Climate Protection Agreement.
Date:
11-13-07
Mayor:
DebD~ C~
Signature:
Address: 6700 Portland Avenue
City:
Richfield
State:
MN
Zip:
55423
Mayor's e-mail: CityCouncil@cityofrichfield.org
Staff Contact Name: Steven L Devich
Staff Contact Title: Ci tv Manager
Staff Phone: 612-861-9702
Staff e-mail: sdevich@cityofrichfield.org
Please add my comments in support of the Mayors Climate Protection Agreement. We will add
these to the Website (optional):
Please return completed form at your earliest convenience to:
The u.s. Conference of Mayors
Climate Protection Center
By Mail:
1620 I Street, NW
Washington, DC 20006
By Fax: (202) 429-0422
Bye-mail: brosenberg(a1usmavors.org
For more information: (202) 861-6782