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