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
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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
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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.
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