HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-27-17 City Commission Packet Materials - A1. Resolution 4866, Supporting the Paris Climate Agreement Commission Memorandum
REPORT TO: Honorable Mayor and City Commission
FROM: Natalie Meyer, Sustainability Program Manager SUBJECT: Resolution 4866 Supporting the Purpose and Goals of the Paris
Climate Agreement in Cooperation with the Climate Mayors Network MEETING DATE: November 27, 2017 MEETING TYPE Action RECOMMENDED MOTION: I move to adopt Resolution 4866 supporting the purpose and goals of the Paris Climate Agreement in cooperation with the Climate Mayors network. BACKGROUND: In 2006, the City of Bozeman signed the Mayors Climate Protection Agreement, committing the Bozeman community to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Over the past decade, we have developed a Municipal and Community Climate Action Plan, established greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals, and remained committed to implementing these plans.
The 2015 Paris Climate Agreement, or Paris Climate Accord, is a historic international agreement within the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change dealing with greenhouse gas emissions mitigation, adaptation, and finance. As of November 2017, 196 countries have signed or have announced plans to sign the Agreement, which aims to respond to
global climate change by keeping global temperature rise below 2 degrees Celsius from pre-
industrial levels and to pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase even further to 1.5 degrees Celsius. In the Agreement, the U.S. volunteered to a 26 to 28 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions below 2005 levels by 2025. The European Union notably committed to a 40 percent reduction by 2025.
On June 1, 2017, the federal government announced that the U.S. would withdraw from the Paris Climate Agreement. Days after the announcement, more than 1,200 business leaders, mayors, governors, and college presidents reaffirmed their personal commitment to the goal of reducing emissions. Since then, many mayors and governors have stepped forth to declare their continued
commitment to addressing climate change. One group, Climate Mayors, led by Mayor Garcetti
of Los Angeles, has promised to work toward the Paris Agreement targets.
There are currently 380 cities in the U.S., representing 68 million Americans, who have joined the Climate Mayors network. Climate Mayors is a Mayor-to-Mayor network of U.S. Mayors collaborating on climate.
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There are no binding commitments as a Climate Mayors member, only that cities will pursue
actions to achieve an emissions reduction target through:
1. Developing a community greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory; and
2. Setting near- and long-term targets to reduce emissions; and
3. Developing a Climate Action Plan aligned with the city’s targets.
In addition, the Climate Mayors network may occasionally request letters or statements from the
mayor, or invite cities to participate in substantive initiatives, such as a joint Request for Information to help advance sustainability related technologies. Climate Mayors holds monthly coordination calls for each city’s Sustainability lead to participate and share progress.
Unresolved Issues: None
Alternatives: As proposed by the City Commission Fiscal Effects: None directly associated with approval of this resolution.
Attachment:
Resolution 4866 Report compiled on: November 15, 2017
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COMMISSION RESOLUTION NO. 4866
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF BOZEMAN,
MONTANA SUPPORTING THE PURPOSE AND GOALS OF THE PARIS CLIMATE
AGREEMENT IN COOPERATION WITH THE CLIMATE MAYORS NETWORK.
WHEREAS, consensus exists among the world’s leading climate scientists that global
warming caused by emissions of greenhouse gases from human activities is among the most
significant problems facing the world today; and
WHEREAS, the 2017 Montana Climate Assessment indicates that increased average
temperatures, more extreme heat days, reduced snowpack, increased spring precipitation, and
extended summer drought are among the observed impacts of climate change in Montana; and
WHEREAS, Montana has experienced impacts from climate change, including reduced
early spring run-off and summer droughts that increase the risk of extreme wildfire, which have
numerous negative effects on public health and the economy; and
WHEREAS, in November 2017, scientists from 13 federal agencies released the fourth
National Climate Assessment, which concludes that it is extremely likely that human influence,
through the burning of fossil fuels, has been the dominant cause of the observed warming since
the mid-20th century; and
WHEREAS, the City of Bozeman has previously demonstrated its commitment to
reducing greenhouse gas emissions by adopting the 2008 Municipal Climate Action Plan and the
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Resolution 4866, Paris Climate Agreement
Page 2 of 3
2011 Community Climate Action Plan, which established a goal of reducing emissions to 10
percent below 2008 levels by 2025; and
WHEREAS, the City of Bozeman has taken significant steps in recent years toward
reducing greenhouse gas emissions from City operations, including transitioning to hybrid electric
fleet vehicles, retrofitting lighting in municipal facilities, traffic signals, and street lights to
increase energy efficiency, receiving a LEED Silver rating for City Hall and the Library, and
partnering with the utility on the Bozeman Solar Project at the Water Reclamation Facility; and
WHEREAS, the City of Bozeman has helped incentivize energy efficiency for homes
and businesses through the Bozeman Energy Smackdown, the Bozeman Energy Project, and the
Water Conservation rebate program; and
WHEREAS, leading on climate change provides communities an opportunity to access
early adopter advantages in the range of grants, partnerships, products, services and know-how to
help us meet our goals; and
WHEREAS, the Paris Climate Agreement resulted in a commitment from nearly every
nation on the planet to take action and enact programs to limit global temperature increase to less
than 2 degrees Celsius, with an expectation that this goal would be reduced to 1.5 degrees Celsius
in the future; and
WHEREAS, the Climate Mayors network, includes 380 cities in the United States,
representing 68 million Americans, who are committed to uphold the goals of the Paris Climate
Agreement; and
WHEREAS, the Bozeman City Commission recognizes that leadership on climate
change must come at the local level;
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Resolution 4866, Paris Climate Agreement
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NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Commission of the City of
Bozeman, Montana that it shall:
1. Indicate its ongoing commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions through
development and implementation of its Climate Action Plan; and
2. Join other US cities in the Climate Mayors network in adopting and supporting the
goals of the Paris Climate Agreement; and
3. Commit to exploring the potential benefits and costs of adopting policies and
programs that promote the long-term goal of greenhouse gas emissions reduction
while maximizing economic and social co-benefits of such action.
PASSED, ADOPTED, AND APPROVED by the City Commission of the City of
Bozeman, Montana, at a regular session thereof held on the 27th day of November, 2017.
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CARSON TAYLOR Mayor ATTEST:
________________________________________ ROBIN CROUGH City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
___________________________________
GREG SULLIVAN City Attorney
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