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HomeMy WebLinkAbout13709RESOLUTION NO. 13709 A RESOLUTION DECLARING THE CITY OF PUEBLO’S AFFIRMATION OF THE GOALS OF THE PARIS CLIMATE ACCORD BY SIGNING ONTO AN OPEN LETTER TO THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY AND THE PARTIES TO THE PARIS CLIMATE AGREEMENT WHEREAS, on June 1, 2017, President Trump announced the withdrawal of the United States from the 2015 Paris Climate Accord, signed by 115 nations of the world; and WHEREAS, President Trump’s decision to withdraw from the Paris climate agreement drew immediate reaction from elected officials, including big-city mayors and governors who vowed to pursue climate policies without the federal government; and WHEREAS a broad coalition of local and state elected officials, university and business leaders has stepped forward to reaffirm U.S. local community leadership in affirming the goals of the Paris Climate Accord; and WHEREAS, renewable energy resources have been shown by a wide range of studies to be the most cost-effective and stable future sources of power generation for the City of Pueblo; and WHEREAS, transitioning to 100% renewable energy will align the City of Pueblo’s carbon emissions with the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement; and WHEREAS, on February 13, 2017, the City of Pueblo affirmed its commitment to achieve 100% renewable energy sources for the City by 2035; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF PUEBLO, that: SECTION 1: The City of Pueblo resolves to co-sign the Open Letter to the International Community and the Parties to the Paris Agreement from U.S. state, local and business leaders affirming the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement, and committing to work together as local communities to take forceful action to ensure that the U.S. remains a global leader in reducing emissions. SECTION 2: The officers and staff of the City are directed and authorized to perform any and all acts consistent with the intent of this Resolution to effectuate the policies and procedures described herein. SECTION 3: This Resolution shall become effective immediately upon passage and approval. INTRODUCED: June 26, 2017 BY: Ray Aguilera City Clerk’s Office Item # Q-1 Background Paper for Proposed Resolution COUNCIL MEETING DATE: June 26, 2017 TO: President and Members of City Council CC: Sam Azad, City Manager VIA: Gina Dutcher, City Clerk FROM: Larry Atencio, City Council Member SUBJECT: A RESOLUTION DECLARING THE CITY OF PUEBLO’S AFFIRMATION OF THE GOALS OF THE PARIS CLIMATE ACCORD BY SIGNING ONTO AN OPEN LETTER TO THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY AND THE PARTIES TO THE PARIS CLIMATE AGREEMENT SUMMARY: Attached is a Resolution declaring the City of Pueblo’s commitment to the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement through its Co-Sponsorship of an open letter to the International Community and the Parties to the Paris Climate Agreement PREVIOUS COUNCIL ACTION: On February 13, 2017, the Pueblo City Council Passed and Approved Resolution No. 13612, establishing a vision for the City of 100% Renewable Energy by the year 2035. Progress toward accomplishment of this Resolution brings the City of Pueblo into alignment with the national and international goals of the Paris Climate Accord. The present action simply proclaims this alignment in concert with hundreds of other communities across the nation. BACKGROUND: This resolution is consistent with the City’s resolution of a vision of 100% renewable energy by 2035. A copy of the letter is attached. There are no binding commitments on the part of the City as a result of passage of this resolution. FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS: None BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION: Not Applicable for this Resolution STAKEHOLDER PROCESS: Not Applicable for this Resolution ALTERNATIVES: There are several parallel campaigns designed to reinforce local government’s commitment to the goals of the Paris Climate Accord. Mayors for 100% Clean Energy (http://www.sierraclub.org/ready-for-100/mayors-for-clean-energy) is a sub-set of the Sierra Club Ready for 100 campaign, in which the City of Pueblo already participates. The program is for cities who have not yet committed to 100% renewable energy, and 99 mayors (as of June 16, 2017) have signed on to Mayors for 100% Clean Energy. The Mayors’ National Climate Action Agenda (MNCAA) or “Climate Mayors” (http://www.climate- mayors.org/paris-agreement-adoption-toolkit/) has nearly 200 mayoral members. There are no binding commitments for Climate Mayors members, but cities must commit to pursuing actions to achieve an emissions reduction target through: 1) Developing a community Greenhouse Gas (GHG) inventory; 2) Setting near- and long-term targets to reduce emissions; and 3) Developing a Climate Action Plan aligned with the city's targets, commitments that go beyond the scope of this resolution. open letter to the international community and We are recommending affirmation of an parties to the Paris Agreement from U.S. state, local, and business leaders (). This http://wearestillin.com/ statement was coordinated by a broad coalition of mainstream organizations, including The American Sustainable Business Council, B Team, Bloomberg Philanthropies, Center for American Progress, Ceres, CDP, Climate Mayors, Climate Nexus, C40, C2ES, Environmental Defense Fund, Environmental Entrepreneurs, Georgetown Climate Center, ICLEI, National League of Cities, Rocky Mountain Institute, Second Nature, Sierra Club, The Climate Group, We Mean Business, and World Wildlife Fund. There are currently 1,219 signatories (including 125 cities), and the letter focuses on highlighting the leadership role of local communities in addressing climate change and the goals of the Paris agreement. RECOMMENDATION: Approve the Resolution. ATTACHMENT: Letter to the International community and parties to the Paris Climate Agreement. • Lily of 1 City Hall Place fai Pueblo, Colorado 81003 (719)553-2669 CnIOrrian (719)553-2697(FAX) June 26, 2017 To the International Community and Parties to the Paris Agreement: We, the City Council of the City of Pueblo, are joining forces for the first time to declare that we will continue to support climate action to meet the Paris Agreement. In December 2015 in Paris, world leaders signed the first global commitment to fight climate change. The landmark agreement succeeded where past attempts failed because it allowed each country to set its own emission reduction targets and adopt its own strategies for reaching them. In addition, nations — inspired by the actions of local and regional governments, along with businesses — came to recognize that fighting climate change brings significant economic and public health benefits. The Trump administration's announcement undermines a key pillar in the fight against climate change and damages the world's ability to avoid the most dangerous and costly effects of climate change. Importantly, it is also out of step with what is happening in the United States. In the U.S., it is local and state governments, along with businesses, that are primarily responsible for the dramatic decrease in greenhouse gas emissions in recent years. Actions by each group will multiply and accelerate in the years ahead, no matter what policies Washington may adopt. In the absence of leadership from Washington, states, cities, colleges and universities and businesses representing a sizeable percentage of the U.S. economy will pursue ambitious climate goals, working together to take forceful action and to ensure that the U.S. remains a global leader in reducing emissions. It is imperative that the world know that in the U.S., the actors that will provide the leadership necessary to meet our Paris commitment are found in city halls, state capitals, colleges and universities, investors and businesses. Together, we will remain actively engaged with the international community as part of the global effort to hold warming to well below 2° C and to accelerate the transition to a clean energy economy that will benefit our security, prosperity, and health. Respectf Stephen G. Nawrocki Ed Brown Councilman At-Large Councilman District President of the City Council Vice-President of the City Council tubo til, i!=zcc'. Ray AguJera awrence Atencio Councilman District 4 Councilman District 2 . /I/ • l /// ` Chris Nicoll ' -Obert''. Sc ill'-g, Jr. %_t_-= Councilman At-Large Councilman District 1 i \ 1 ., "r Councilwoman At-Large