Taos, NM Endorsing the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement

Type: Resolution
Status: Adopted on 1/30/07
Source File: http://www.taosgov.com/legalordinances/resolutions/2007/07-04.pdf
Text:
RESOLUTION 07-04
A RESOLUTION TO ENDORSE 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 Arctic sea-
ice thickness; and nine of the ten hottest; years on records 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
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 government 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 allowance among emitting industries; and
c. We will strive to meet or exceed Kyoto Protocol targets for reducing global warming
pollution by taking action in our 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, walk able 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 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
message; 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 forest, 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 BY THE GOVERNING BODY OF THE TOWN OF TAOS to fully endorse the U.S. Conference of 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 that the Town of Taos 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.
Category:City Governments
Category:Climate Policy
Category:New Mexico
Category:Resolutions
Category:Taos