Clackamas County, OR Resolution on Sustainability

Type: Resolution
Status: Adopted on 2/28/08
Source File: http://www.clackamas.us/sustainability/resolution.htm
Text:
Resolution for a Sustainable Clackamas County
WHEREAS, Sustainability means meeting current economic, social and environmental needs while ensuring that future generations can meet their needs,
WHEREAS, Protection, preservation and restoration of the natural environment is a high priority;
WHEREAS, Water is essential for life and plays a vital role in the Earth’s ecosystems;
WHEREAS,Healthy urban and rural communities are an integral part of a sustainable Clackamas County;
WHEREAS,Community awareness, responsibility, participation and education are key to creating and maintaining a sustainable Clackamas County;
WHEREAS, We are connected to the regional, national and global community;
WHEREAS, As a county, we play an essential role in mitigating climate change through our regional jurisdiction over policy areas including land use planning, agriculture, transportation, zoning, forest preservation, water conservation, and wastewater and solid waste management;
WHEREAS, Sustainable development can secure a community's future by creating family-wage jobs, improving the environment and quality of life, and strengthening the economy;
WHEREAS, As described in the 2007 report of the Clackamas County Green Ribbon Committee, we are committed to sustainable economic development, building practices and products, and agricultural and forest products;
WHEREAS, For sustainability to be successfully integrated into Clackamas County, commitment to action is required at all levels;
THEREFORE, We, the Clackamas County Board of Commissioners, hereby resolve that the concept of sustainability shall guide County policy now and in the future. We further commit the County to follow the principles of The Oregon Natural Step Network to support and enhance sustainability within County operations and throughout the larger community.
THEREFORE, We are committed to meeting or exceeding global targets for mitigating climate change by taking actions in our own operations and communities, including the following:
:1. Create an action plan for reducing global warming emissions in County operations;
:2. Increase the average fuel efficiency of County fleet vehicles;
:3. Increase recycling rates in County operations and in the community;
:4. Make County procurement decisions that minimize negative environmental and social impacts;
:5. Continue to practice and promote sustainable building practices using the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED™ program;
:6. Adopt and enforce land-use policies that reduce sprawl; preserve open space; create compact, walkable urban communities, and
:7. Protect and foster productive and healthy agriculture and natural resource lands;
:8. Make energy efficiency a priority, and increase the use of clean, alternative energy;
:9. Promote transportation options;
:10. Preserve water resources through education, planning and water supply coordination;
:11. Help educate the public, schools, other jurisdictions, professional associations, businesses and industry about reducing the negative impacts of climate change.
Category:County Governments
Category:Oregon
Category:Resolutions
Category:Sustainability Policies