Sun Valley, ID Resolution Endorsing the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement

Type: Resolution
Status: Adopted on 1/18/07
Source File: Click here
Text:
RESOLUTION 2007 - 01
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF SUN VALLEY, IDAHO, 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 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 forty percent (40%) decline in
Arctic 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 five point two
percent (5.2%) 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 twenty-five percent (25%)of the world’s global warming
pollutants; and
WHEREAS, the Kyoto Protocol emissions reduction target for the U.S. would have been seven
percent (7%) 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
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:
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;
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 International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (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. Conference of
Mayors meeting and urges mayors from around the nation to join this effort.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, The U.S. Conference of Mayors will work in conjunction with
International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (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.
Category:City Governments
Category:Climate Policy
Category:Idaho
Category:Resolutions