Edmonds, WA In Support of the Kyoto Protocol on Emissions

Type: Resolution
Status: Adopted on 9/18/06
Source File: http://www.mrsc.org/ords/E3r1129.pdf
Text:
RESOLUTION NO. 1129
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF EDMONDS, WASHINGTON, IN SUPPORT OF THE KYOTO PROTOCOL ON EMISSIONS, ENDORSING THE U.S. MAYOR’S CLIMATE PROTECTION AGREEMENT AND REQUESTING PERIODIC REPORTS REGARDING THE PROGRESS OF THE CITY TOWARD IMPLEMENTING THE U.S. MAYOR’S 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 or increasing
concentrations of global warming pollution; and
WHEREAS, recent, well-documented impacts of climate disruption include
average global sea level increase of rout to eight inches during the 20th century; a 40 percent
decline in Arctic sea-ice thickness, and nine of the ten hottest years on record occurring 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 for 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 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 Unites 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 the bipartisan greenhouse gas reduction legislation that includes 1) clear timetables and emissions limits and 2) a flexible, market-based system of tradable allowances among omitting 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:
# Inventory global warming emissions in City operations and in the community, set reduction targets and create an action plan;
# Adopt and enforce land-use policies that reduce sprawl, preserve open space, and create compact, walkable urban communities;
# Promote transportation options such as bicycle trails, commute trip reduction programs, incentives for car pooling and public transit;
# 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;
# 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;
# Purchase only Energy Star equipment and appliances for City use;
# Practice and promote sustainable building practices using the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED program or a similar system;
# 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;
# Evaluate opportunities to increase pump efficiency in water and wastewater systems; recover wastewater treatment methane for energy production;
# Increase recycling rates in City operations and in the community;
# Maintain healthy urban forests; promote tree planting to increase shading and to absorb CO2; and
# Help educate the public, schools, other jurisdictions, professional associations, business and industry about reducing global warming pollution, 
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF EDMONDS, WASHINGTON, HEREBY RESOLVES AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The Edmonds City Council hereby endorses and adopts the U.S.
Mayors Climate Protection Agreement as amended by the 73rd Annual U.S. Conference of
Mayors meeting and encourages the Mayor to consider its recommendations as he prepares this
year’s annual budget and implements the current year’s budget.
Section 2. In furtherance of the U.S. Conference of Mayors and ICLEI Local
Governments for Sustainability and other appropriate organizations’ attempts to track progress
and implement the U.S. Mayors’ Climate Protection Agreement as amended, the City Council requests semi-annual updates regarding the progress of the City in implementing the following
program milestones: 1) conduct an emissions inventory and forecast; 2) set a reduction target; 3)
develop an action plan to achieve the target; 4) implement the plan; and 5) periodically review
progress and update the plan.
Category:City Governments
Category:Climate Policy
Category:Resolutions
Category:Washington