HomeMy WebLinkAboutR-19-0376City of Miami
Resolution R-19-0376
Legislation
City Hall
3500 Pan American Drive
Miami, FL 33133
www.miamigov.com
File Number: 6009 Final Action Date: 10/10/2019
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, URGING THE 116TH
CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA TO SUPPORT HOUSE
RESOLUTION 763, TITLED "THE ENERGY INNOVATION AND CARBON
DIVIDEND ACT OF 2019"; DIRECTING THE CITY CLERK TO TRANSMIT A
COPY OF THIS RESOLUTION TO THE OFFICIALS NAMED HEREIN.
SPONSOR(S): Mayor Francis X. Suarez, Commissioner Ken Russell, Commissioner
Joe Carollo
WHEREAS, in October 2018, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
issued a report titled "Global Warming of 1.5 °C" ("Report") which studied the impacts of
global warming of 1.5 °C above pre -industrial levels; and
WHEREAS, the Report warned that global warming is likely to reach 1.5 °C
between 2030 and 2052, if it continues to increase at the current rate; and
WHEREAS, the Federal Government released its Fourth Annual Climate
Assessment ("Assessment") in November 2018, reporting that the impacts of climate
change are already being felt in communities across the country and that more frequent,
intense and extreme weather and climate -related events and changes in average climate
conditions are expected to continue to damage infrastructure, ecosystems, and social
systems that provide essential benefits to communities; and
WHEREAS, according to the Assessment, greenhouse gas emissions from human
activities will continue to affect the Earth's climate for decades and even centuries, due to
adding carbon dioxide ("CO2") to the atmosphere at a rate far greater than it is removed
by natural processes, creating a long-lived reservoir of the gas in the atmosphere and
oceans that is driving the climate to a warmer and warmer state; and
WHEREAS, to begin to assess this issue, the United States ("U.S.") Congress is
considering enacting House Resolution 763, titled "Energy Innovation and Carbon
Dividend Act" ("H.R. 763"), to assess a national carbon fee on fossil fuels based on the
amount of CO2 the fuel will emit when burned and allocate the collected proceeds to all
U.S. households in equal shares in the form of a monthly dividend; and
WHEREAS, as stated in H.R. 763, a national revenue -neutral carbon fee starting at a
relatively low rate of $15 per ton of CO2 equivalent emissions and resulting in equal charges,
per ton of CO2 equivalent emissions potential in each type of fuel or greenhouse gas should be
assessed to begin to lower what are now dangerously high CO2 emissions; and
WHEREAS, H.R. 763 proposes yearly increases in carbon fees, including other
greenhouse gases in the amount of at least $10 per ton of CO2 equivalent each year, with the
U.S. Department of Energy determining whether an increase larger than $10 per ton per year is
needed to achieve program goals; and
City of Miami Page 1 of 2 File ID: 6009 (Revision:) Printed On: 4/24/2025
File ID: 6009 Enactment Number: R-19-0376
WHEREAS, H.R. 763 encourages market -driven innovation of clean energy
technologies and market efficiencies which will reduce harmful pollution and leave a healthier,
more stable, and more prosperous nation for future generations; and
WHEREAS, H.R. 763 will, after 12 years, lead to a decrease in the U.S.' CO2 emissions
of forty percent (40%) and an increase in national employment of 2.1 million jobs; and
WHEREAS, the Sea Level Rise Committee adopted a resolution recommending that the
City of Miami support H.R. 763;
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 City Commission hereby urges the U.S. Congress to support H.R. 763.
Section 3. The City Clerk is directed to transmit a certified copy of this Resolution to
members of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives
representing Florida.
Section 4. This Resolution shall become effective immediately upon its adoption and
signature of the Mayor.'
APPROVED AS TO FORM AND CORRECTNESS:
ndez, City Httor ey 10/1/2019
1 If the Mayor does not sign this Resolution, it shall become effective at the end of ten (10) 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 2 of 2 File ID: 6009 (Revision:) Printed on: 4/24/2025