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ENDORSING THE U.S. MAYORS’ CLIMATE PROTECTION AGREEMENT

WHEREAS, the U.S. Conference of Mayors has previously adopted strong policy resolutions calling for cities, communities and the federal government to take actions to reduce global warming pollution; and

WHEREAS, the Inter-Governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the international community’s most respected assemblage of scientists, is clear that there is no longer any credible doubt that climate disruption is a reality and that human activities are largely responsible for increasing concentrations of global warming pollution; and

WHEREAS, recent, well-documented impacts of climate disruption include average global sea level increases of four to eight inches during the 20th century; a 40% decline in Arctic sea-ice thickness; and nine of the ten hottest years on record occurring in the past decade; and

WHEREAS, climate disruption of the magnitude now predicted by the scientific community will cause extremely costly disruption of human and natural systems throughout the world including: increased risk of floods or droughts; sea-level rises that interact with coastal storms to erode beaches, inundate land, and damage structures; more frequent and extreme heat waves, more frequent and greater concentrations of smog; and

WHEREAS, on February 16, 2005, the Kyoto Protocol, an international agreement to address climate disruption, went into effect in the 141 countries that have ratified it to date; 38 of those countries are now legally required to reduce greenhouse gas emissions on average 5.2 percent below 1990 levels by 2012; and

WHEREAS, the United States of America, with less than five percent of the world’s population, is responsible for producing approximately 25% of the world’s global warming pollutants; and

WHEREAS, the Kyoto Protocol emissions reduction target for the United States, would have been 7% below 1990 levels by 2012; and

WHEREAS, many leading Unites States companies that have adopted greenhouse gas reduction programs to demonstrate corporate social responsibility have also publicly expressed preference for the United States to adopt precise and mandatory emissions targets and timetables as a means by which to remain competitive in the international marketplace, to mitigate financial risk and to promote sound investment decisions; and

WHEREAS, state and local governments throughout the United States are adopting emission reduction targets and programs and that this leadership is bipartisan, coming from Republican and Democratic governors and mayors alike; and

WHEREAS, many cities throughout the nation, both large and small, are reducing global warming pollutants through programs that provide economic and quality of life benefits such as reduced energy bills, green space preservation, air quality improvements, reduced traffic congestion, improved transportation choices, and economic development and job creation through energy conservation and new energy technologies; and

WHEREAS, mayors from around the nation have signed the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement which, as amended at the 73^rd Annual U.S. Conference of Mayors meeting, reads:

The U.S. Mayors’ Climate Protection Agreement

We urge the federal government and state governments to enact policies and programs to meet or beat the target of reducing global warming pollution levels to 7% below 1990 levels by 2012, including efforts to: reduce the United States’ dependence on fossil fuels and accelerate the development of clean, economical energy resources and fuel-efficient technologies such as conservation, methane recovery for energy generation, wind and solar energy, fuel cells, efficient motor vehicles, and biofuels;
We urge the United States Congress to pass bipartisan greenhouse gas reduction legislation that includes 1) clear timetables and emissions limits and 2) flexible, market-based system of tradable allowances among emitting industries; and
We will strive to meet or exceed Kyoto Protocol targets for reducing global warming pollution by taking actions in our own operations and communities such as:

1. Inventory global warming emissions in City operations and in the community, set reduction targets and create an action plan.

2. Adopt and enforce land-use policies that reduce sprawl, preserve open space, and create compact, walkable urban communities;

3. Promote transportation options such as bicycle trails, commute trip reduction programs, incentives for car pooling and public transit;

4. Increase the use of clean, alternative energy by, for example, investing in “green tags”, advocating for the development of renewable energy resources, recovering landfill methane for energy production, and supporting the use of waste to energy technology;

5. Make energy efficiency a priority through building code improvements, retrofitting city facilities with energy efficient lighting and urging employees to conserve energy and save money;

6. Purchase only Energy Star equipment and appliances for City use;

7. Practice and promote sustainable building practices using the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED program or a similar system;

8. Increase the average fuel efficiency of municipal fleet vehicles, reduce the number of vehicles, launch an employee education program including anti-idling messages, and convert diesel vehicles to bio-diesel;

9. Evaluate opportunities to increase pump efficiency in water and wastewater systems, and recover wastewater treatment methane for energy production;

10. Increase recycling rates in City operations and in the community;

11. Maintain healthy urban forests, promote tree planting to increase shading and to absorb CO2; and

12. Help educate the public, schools, other jurisdictions, professional associations, business and industry about reducing global warming pollution.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the U.S. Conference of Mayors endorses the U.S. Mayors’ Climate Protection Agreement as amended by the 73^rd annul U.S Conference of Mayors meeting and urges mayors from around the nation to join this effort.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, The U.S. Conference of Mayors will work in conjunction with ICLEI (International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives) Local Governments for Sustainability and other appropriate organizations to track progress and implementation of the U.S. Mayors’ Climate Protection Agreement as amended by the 73^rd annual U.S. Conference of Mayors meeting.

U.S. Conference of Mayors’ Climate Protection Agreement – Signature Page

DATE:_____________________________________________________

You have my support for the U.S. Mayors’ Climate Protection Agreement.

Mayor______________________________________________________

(name)

______________________________________________________ (signature)

City: _____________________________________________________

Address:___________________________________________________

Staff contact: ____________________________________________

(name, title)

Staff phone: ______________________________________________

Email: ____________________________________________________

Please add my comments in support of the U.S. Mayors’ Climate Protection Agreement. We will add these to the Website (optional):

___________________________________________________________

Please return completed form at your earliest convenience to:

U.S. Mayors’ Climate Protection Agreement

c/o City of Seattle

Office of Sustainability and Environment

PO Box 94729

Seattle Municipal Tower

Seattle, WA 98124-4729

http://www.seattle.gov/mayor/climate/

OR FAX 206-684-3013

Email PDF file to: dena.gazin@seattle.gov

U.S. Mayors’ Climate Protection Agreement – Contact Information

Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels is coordinating this initiative. He can be reached at 206-684-4000.

The primary staff contacts for Seattle are:

Steve Nicholas, Director

Office of Sustainability and Environment

(206) 615-0829