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HomeMy WebLinkAboutR-12-0244City of Miami Legislation Resolution: R-12-0244 City Hall 3500 Pan American Drive Miami, FL 33133 www.miamigov.com File Number: 12-00755 Final Action Date: 7/12/2012 A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION URGING LISA P. JACKSON, ADMINISTRATOR OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY AND PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA TO MOVE SWIFTLY TO FULLY EMPLOY AND ENFORCE THE CLEAN AIR ACT TO REDUCE CARBON IN THE ATMOSPHERE, REDUCING THE LEVEL TO NO MORE THAN 350 PARTS PER MILLION; DIRECTING THE CITY CLERK TO TRANSMIT A COPY OF THIS RESOLUTION TO ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY ADMINISTRATOR LISA P. JACKSON AND TO PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA. WHEREAS, the decade from 2000 to 2010 was the warmest on record, and 2005 and 2010 tied for the hottest years on record; and WHEREAS, the current level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is approximately 392 parts per million (ppm); and WHEREAS, one of the world's leading climate scientists, Dr. James Hansen, stated in 2008: "If humanity wishes to preserve a planet similar to that on which civilization developed and to which life on Earth is adapted, paleoclimate evidence and climate change suggest that CO2 will need to be reduced from its current 385 ppm to at most 350 ppm"; and WHEREAS, the Environmental Protection Agency ("EPA") determined that current and future greenhouse gas concentrations endanger public health, and, according to the Global Humanitarian Forum, climate change is already responsible every year for some 300,000 deaths, 325 million people seriously affected, and economic losses worldwide of $125 billion; and WHEREAS, extreme weather events, most notably heat waves and precipitation extremes, are striking with increased frequency, with deadly consequences for people and wildlife; in the United States in 2011 alone, a record 14 weather and climate disasters occurred, including droughts, heat waves, and floods, that cost at least $1 billion each in damages and loss of human lives; and WHEREAS, climate change is affecting food security by negatively impacting the growth and yields of important crops, and droughts, floods and changes in snowpack are altering water supplies; and WHEREAS, scientists have concluded that by the year 2100 as many as 1 in 10 species may be on the verge of extinction due to climate change; and WHEREAS, sea level along the United States East Coast is rising faster than it has for at least 2,000 years, is accelerating in pace, and could rise by one to two meters in this century, threatening millions of Americans with severe flooding; and WHEREAS, for four decades, the Clean Air Act has protected the air through a proven, City of Miami Page 1 of 3 File Id: 12-00755 (Version: 11 Printed On: 11/21/2017 File Number: 12-00755 Enactment Number: R-12-0244 comprehensive, successful system of pollution control that saves lives and creates economic benefits exceeding its costs by many times; and WHEREAS, with the Clean Air Act, air quality in this country has improved significantly since 1970, despite major growth both in our economy and industrial production; and WHEREAS, between 1970 and 1990, the six main pollutants covered by the Clean Air Act, particulate matter and ground -level ozone (both of which contribute to smog and asthma), carbon monoxide, lead, sulfur and nitrogen oxides (the acid gases that cause acid rain), were reduced by between 47 percent and 93 percent, and airborne lead was virtually eliminated; and WHEREAS, the Clean Air Act has produced economic benefits valued at $2 trillion or 30 times the cost of regulation; and WHEREAS, the United States Supreme Court ruled in Massachusetts vs. EPA (2007) that greenhouse gases are "air pollutants" as defined by the Clean Air Act and the EPA has the authority to regulate them; and WHEREAS, the City of Miami ("City") prides itself on being a leader in the fight against climate change and for clean air and during the past five years has: • Adopted the Mayor's Climate Protection Agreement and established the Office of Sustainable Initiatives for the purpose of reducing the City's greenhouse gas emissions. • Adopted the City's Climate Action Plan which set targets for reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and recommended actions to achieve those reductions. • Taken steps to achieve greenhouse gas reductions in buildings by retrofitting City -owned buildings and participating in the Green Corridor Property Assessed Clean Energy program to retrofit commercial buildings within the City. • Achieved greenhouse gas reductions in transportation through adoption of a Bicycle Master Plan, to make the City more bicycle friendly, and has also launched a trolley service. • Reduced greenhouse gasses through efficient land use in Miami 21, the City's Smart Growth -based zoning code. • Completed the construction of the Miami Green Lab facility to serve as a green building resource center to promote energy efficiency. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA: Section 1. The recitals and findings contained in the Preamble to this Resolution are adopted by reference and incorporated as if fully set forth in this Section. Section 2. The Miami City Commission hereby urges Lisa P. Jackson, Administrator of the EPA and President Barack Obama to move swiftly to fully employ and enforce the Clean Air Act to reduce carbon in the atmosphere, reducing the level to no more than 350 parts per million. Section 3. The City Clerk is directed to send a copy of this resolution to EPA Administrator Lisa City of Miami Page 2 of 3 File Id: 12-00755 (Version: 11 Printed On: 11/21/2017 File Number: 12-00755 Enactment Number: R-12-0244 Jackson and President Barack Obama. Section 4. This Resolution shall become effective immediately upon its adoption and signature of the Mayor. {1} Footnotes: {1} If the Mayor does not sign this Resolution, it shall become effective at the end of ten calendar days from the date it was passed and adopted. If the Mayor vetoes this Resolution, it shall become effective immediately upon override of the veto by the City Commission. City of Miami Page 3 of 3 File Id: 12-00755 (Version: 1) Printed On: 11/21/2017