Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC Resolution 14974 (Climate Emergency Declaration) RESOLUTION NO. 14974 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN RAFAEL ADOPTING A CLIMATE EMERGENCY DECLARATION AND ESTABLISHING A NEW LONG-TERM TARGET FOR GREENHOUSE GAS REDUCTIONS WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of San Rafael is charged with protecting and promoting the health, safety, and welfare of San Rafael’s residents, and sustaining the city’s environment and livability; and WHEREAS, the City Council concurs with the consensus among climate scientists that global climate and ecological crises are happening now, and that the current pace and scale of global climate action is not sufficient to avert substantial and increasing damage to the environment, economy, and human health; and WHEREAS, atmospheric CO2 is now 50 percent higher than at any time in human history, and global average temperatures are at the highest level ever recorded, and both trends are increasing; and WHEREAS, our planet is rapidly approaching critical climate tipping points, as defined by the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Sixth Assessment Report, released August 9, 2021, that must be avoided to prevent cascading and uncontrollable effects on the survival of our species; and WHEREAS, in 2018, the 4th National and California Climate Change Assessments warned that extreme weather and climate-related events in the United States are worsening, predicting increased heat waves in the western U.S., larger wildfires of greater intensity, declining snowpack and increasing drought, increased flooding and sea level rise, impaired agriculture, and substantial damage to the economy and human health, unless greenhouse gas emissions are immediately and dramatically curbed; and WHEREAS, in 2016, the California State legislature passed SB 32, setting interim greenhouse gas reduction targets of 40% below 1990 levels by 2030, and on September 10, 2018, California Governor Brown signed Executive Order B-55-18 setting a new statewide goal of net zero greenhouse gas emissions as soon as possible and no later than 2045; and WHEREAS, humanity can no longer safely emit greenhouse gases and must undertake an emergency mobilization across all sectors to: (1) reduce and remove excess greenhouse gases from the atmosphere; (2) preserve and restore the Earth’s biodiversity; (3) implement measures to protect all people and species from the consequences of global warming; and (4) cultivate a just and equitable transition toward climate justice and resilience; and WHEREAS, low-income communities, indigenous communities, and communities of color are experiencing the greatest impacts of climate change, and remediation of these impacts requires active collaboration with and protection of these and other vulnerable and historically exploited populations; and WHEREAS, young people will inherit the legacy of our decisions on climate, and youth from diverse backgrounds are organizing locally and worldwide to demand climate justice and government action to mitigate the catastrophic impacts of the climate emergency and to restore a safe climate; and WHEREAS, San Rafael has demonstrated climate leadership to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and enhance the quality of life in our community, including sustainable land use planning, adoption of its first Climate Change Action Plan in 2009, and an updated Climate Change Action Plan 2030; and WHEREAS, in adopting its General Plan 2040, the City resolved to vigorously implement programs to achieve or exceed State GHG goals, including actions pursuant to its current Climate Change Action Plan priorities to reduce emissions through building electrification, electric vehicle adoption, and mandatory organics recycling, thereby addressing the three largest sectors of San Rafael’s GHG footprint, and WHEREAS, despite significant actions by San Rafael and other governmental entities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, we currently face an increasingly urgent climate crisis that demands dramatic and accelerated action by all, including all levels of government, major institutions, residents, and businesses and that we must work with and empower our community to do their part if we are to avoid catastrophic consequences from climate change; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of San Rafael hereby declares that we are in a climate emergency, which threatens our city, region, state, nation, humanity and the natural world, requiring urgent action; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, in addition to the current goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions to 40% below 1990 levels by 2030 currently in the Climate Change Action Plan, that the City Council of the City of San Rafael adopts the State of California’s goal of achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions as soon as possible and no later than 2045, including potential acceleration of these dates by the State; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the City Council of the City of San Rafael directs the City Manager to continue to work with staff to mobilize municipal and community actions to meet the growing climate emergency by reducing greenhouse gas emissions, increasing carbon sequestration, and preparing for climate impacts, including such actions identified in General Plan 2040 and the Climate Change Action Plan 2030, as amended or updated, to meet or exceed City climate goals as quickly as feasible; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the City Council of the City of San Rafael regards climate change to be a high priority in its annual goal-setting process and directs the City Manager to continue to identify financial and regulatory means to support San Rafael’s climate actions and to consider specific funds for greenhouse gas and climate change mitigation and resilience measures, including for rapid implementation of those measures identified in the City Council’s biennial climate action priorities; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the City Council of the City of San Rafael directs the City Manager to include a consideration of consistency with this Climate Emergency Resolution and San Rafael’s Climate Change Action Plan in all relevant decision-making, just as it considers fiscal impact and General Plan consistency; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the City Council of the City of San Rafael commits to regularly assess and augment San Rafael’s greenhouse gas reduction actions, policies and goals, and provide progress reports and metrics at least annually; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the City Council of the City of San Rafael commits to pursuing climate actions in an equitable and inclusive manner that furthers social equity, environmental justice, and economic vitality; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the City Council of the City of San Rafael affirms the need for the understanding, active participation and collaboration of the broader community for all actions and initiatives San Rafael may adopt in response to the climate emergency and commits to provide outreach, information and education for residents, businesses, and City staff on the urgency of climate responses and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, as well as policies and strategies to advance sustainability and resilience; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the City Council of the City of San Rafael joins and will advocate for appropriate county, regional, state, national, and international climate action emergency mobilization efforts at all levels of government, including advocacy for actions beyond local authority, such as carbon pricing and extended producer responsibility, in order to reverse global warming and associated ecological crises. I, Lindsay Lara, Clerk of the City of San Rafael, hereby certify that the foregoing Resolution was duly and regularly introduced and adopted at a regular meeting of the San Rafael City Council held on the 20th day of September 2021, by the following vote to wit: AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS: Hill, Kertz, Llorens Gulati & Mayor Pro Tem Bushey NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS: None ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: Mayor Kate LINDSAY LARA, City Clerk