Pittsburg, CA Approve Membership in the ICLEI

Pittsburg, CA, US

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Type: Resolution

Status: Adopted on 10/15/07

Source File: http://www.ci.pittsburg.ca.us/sirepub/view.aspx?cabinet=PUBLISHED_MEETINGS&fileid=5085

Text:

APPROVE MEMBERSHIP IN INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL OF LOCAL ENVIRONMENTAL INITIATIVES [ICLEI] IN RESPONSE TO THE CALIFORNIA GLOBAL WARMING SOLUTIONS ACT

The Pittsburg City Council DOES RESOLVE as follows:

WHEREAS, scientific consensus has developed that carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere have a profound effect on the Earth’s climate; and,

WHEREAS, the 2007 Fourth Assessment Report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) states that it is very likely that most of the observed increases in globally averaged temperatures since the mid-20th century are due to human-induced greenhouse gas emissions; and,

WHEREAS, in 2006 the U.S. National Climatic Data Center confirmed clear evidence of human influences on climate due to changes in greenhouse gases; and,

WHEREAS, the U.S. Conference of Mayors endorsed the 2005 U.S. Mayors’ Climate Protection Agreement initiated by Seattle Mayor Nickels and signed by more than 700 mayors in the United States as of August 2007; and,

WHEREAS, the Urban Environmental Accords adopted by local government delegates during UN World Environment Day 2005 call for reduced emissions through energy efficiency, land use and transportation planning, waste reduction, and wiser energy management; and,

WHEREAS, in 2003 the American Geophysical Union adopted a Statement noting that human activities are increasingly altering the Earth’s climate and that natural influences cannot explain the rapid increase in near-surface temperatures observed during the second half of the 20th century; and,

WHEREAS, in 2001, at the request of the Administration, the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) reviewed and declared global warming a real problem likely due to human activities; and,

WHEREAS, the 2000 U.S. Global Change Research Program’s (USGCRP) First National Assessment indicated that global warming has begun; and,

WHEREAS, 162 countries including the United States pledged under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions; and,

WHEREAS, energy consumption, specifically the burning of fossil fuels, accounts for more than 80% of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions; and,

WHEREAS, local government actions taken to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase energy efficiency provide multiple local benefits by decreasing air pollution, creating jobs, reducing energy expenditures, and saving money for the local government, its businesses, and its residents; and,

WHEREAS, The State of California has adopted AB 32 the California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 requiring the State Air Resources Control Board to adopt regulations to require the reporting and verification of statewide greenhouse gas emissions and to monitor and enforce compliance with this program, and,

WHEREAS, the Cities for Climate Protection Campaign sponsored by ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability has invited the City of Pittsburg to join ICLEI and become a partner in the Cities for Climate Protection Campaign;

NOW, THEREFORE, the City Council finds and determines as follows:

Section 1. Findings
A. The recitals set forth above are true and correct statements.

B. The City Council authorizes the submittal of an application to join ICLEI as a Full Member and participate in the Cities for Climate Protection Campaign and, as a participant, pledges to take a leadership role in promoting public awareness about the causes and impacts of climate change.

C. The City will undertake the Cities for Climate Protection Campaign’s five milestones to reduce both greenhouse gas and air pollution emissions throughout the community, and specifically:

• Conduct a greenhouse gas emissions inventory and forecast to determine the source and quantity of greenhouse gas emissions in the jurisdiction;
• Establish a greenhouse gas emissions reduction target;

D. The City requests assistance from ICLEI’s Cities for Climate Protection Campaign as it progresses through the milestones.

E. The Director of Public Works, or his/her designee, is hereby authorized and directed to execute in the name of the City of Pittsburg all necessary applications, contracts, payment requests, and agreements thereto for the purpose of joining ICLEI as well as participating in the Contra Costa County Climate Protection Project.

F. The City Council may appoint a liaison to ICLEI.

G. The City to allocate funding from the Solid Waste Fund to join ICLEI this fiscal year and annually and to hire an intern to complete the City’s greenhouse emission inventory.