Burlington, VT In Support of Litigation Against EPA Regarding Global Warming
Burlington,
VT,
US
Type: Resolution
Status: Adopted on 7/10/06
Source File: Click here
Text:
AUTHORIZATION TO JOIN. U.S. SUPREME COURT AMICUS BRIEF REGARDING GLOBAL WARMING LITIGATION
In the year Two Thousand Six
Resolved by the City Council of the City of Burlington, as follows:
That WHEREAS, the U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear a case filed by a group of states, including the State of Vermont, and environmental groups to require the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to regulate carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gas emissions associated with climate change, from new motor vehicles under the Clean Air Act; and
WHEREAS, an organization called the Community Rights Counsel is preparing to file an amicus brief in support of the plaintiffs’ position and has asked subject to procedural approval, that the City of Burlington join with environmental groups and other cities on that amicus brief; and
WHEREAS, the concern about motor vehicle emissions of greenhouse gases is that such emissions contribute to global warming and that global warming in turn is causing a host of serious problems including melting ice caps, rising sea levels, more severe hurricanes and other storms, epidemic increases in certain diseases, increased deaths from heat waves, more frequent floods and droughts, extensive crop damage with resulting starvation and devastating harm to wildlife and the natural environment; and
WHEREAS, forested areas may experience serious threats from insects which can survive in more northern climates with slight temperature changes, making Vermont particularly susceptible to resulting threats to our maple sugar industry, ski industry and fall foliage tourism from global warming; and
WHEREAS, the Burlington City Council passed a resolution in 1996 putting the City on record in support of efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions within the City of Burlington and joining the Cities for Climate Protection Campaign of the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives; and
WHEREAS, the Burlington City Council passed another resolution in 1998, committing the City to continuing efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions; and
WHEREAS, the City of Burlington has instituted numerous improvements in the last 20 years to reduce greenhouse gas emissions including transportation initiatives, Burlington Electric Department energy conserving strategies and a variety of energy efficiency measures through public/private partnership efforts;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council hereby authorizes the Mayor and the City Attorney’s Office to join, on behalf of the City of Burlington, in the amicus brief to be prepared and filed by Community Rights Counsel and take all other necessary and appropriate action to support the petitioners in the matter before the U. S. Supreme Court known as Commonwealth of Massachusetts, et al. v. U. S. Environmental Protection Agency.