HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolutions - 2008.10.23 - 9641Miscellaneous Resolution #08123
BY: Commissioner David Woodward, District #18 4 Con44.14/43"as )&"
RE: Board of Commissioners Oakland County Joins Sierra Club Cool Counties Initiative
TO: Oakland County Board of Commissioners
Chairperson, Ladies and Gentlemen:
WHEREAS, there is a consensus among the world's leading scientists that global warming
caused by human emission of greenhouse gases is among the most significant problems facing
the world today; and
WHEREAS, documented impacts of global warming include but are not limited to increased
occurrences of extreme weather events (i.e., droughts and floods), adverse impacts on plants and
wildlife habitats, threats to global food and water supplies — all of which have an economic
impact on communities and their local governments; and
WHEREAS, leading scientists have projected that stabilization of climate change in time to
minimize such impacts will require a reduction of global warming emissions to 80 percent below
current levels by the year 2050; and
WHEREAS, currently the United States is responsible for producing approximately 25 percent
of the world's global warming pollutants; and
WHEREAS, many leading U.S. companies that have adopted greenhouse gas reduction
programs to demonstrate corporate and operational responsibility have also publicly expressed
preference for the federal government to adopt precise and mandatory emissions targets and
timetables as a means by which to provide a uniform and predictable regulatory environment to
encourage and enable necessary and long-term business investments; and
WHEREAS, state, regional and local governments throughout the United States are adopting
emissions reduction targets and programs, and this effort is bipartisan, coming from Republican
and Democratic leadership;
WHEREAS, the U.S. Conference of Mayors has endorsed the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection
Agreement, which commits cities to reduction of global warming emissions to 7 percent below
1990 levels by 2012, and calls for a federal limit on emissions; and
WHEREAS, more than 100 county leaders signed a letter written by Dane County, Wisconsin,
that was sent to the President in March 2006, calling for increased energy investment and
development of jobs focused on clean energy technologies; and
WHEREAS, counties have a unique role to play in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and
preparing for the impacts of climate change through their regional jurisdiction over policy areas
such as air quality, land use planning, transportation, zoning, water conservation, and wastewater
and solid waste management; and
WHEREAS, the economic arguments for implementing climate solutions are compelling, from
the near-term economic gains of energy efficiency to the long-term climate stabilization that can
prevent irreparable harm from catastrophic climate change impacts; and
ption of the foregoing Resolution. Cha' ..ersori, we move the a
Fimm ssi• erDavid Woodward
District #18
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WHEREAS, many counties throughout the nation, both large and small, are reducing global
warming pollutants through programs that provide economic and quality of life benefits such as
reducing energy bills, preserving green space, implementing better land use policies, improving
air quality, promoting waste-to-energy programs, expanding transportation and work choices to
reduce traffic congestion, and fostering more economic development and job creation through
energy conservation and new technologies;
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Oakland County Board of Commissioners
herby joins the Sierra Club's Cool Counties Campaign.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Oakland County will take immediate steps to help the
federal, state, and our governments within our county to achieve the 2050 climate stabilization
goal by making the following commitments:
Create an inventory of our county government (operational) greenhouse gas ("GHG")
emissions and implement policies, programs and operations to achieve significant,
measurable and sustainable reduction of those operational GHG emissions to help
contribute to the regional reduction targets as identified in paragraph ii;
Work closely with local, state, and federal governments and other leaders to reduce
county geographical GHG emissions to 80 percent below current levels by 2050, by
developing a GHG emissions inventory and regional plan that establishes short-,
mid-, and long-term GHG reduction targets, with recommended goals to stop
increasing emissions by 2010, and to achieve a 10 percent reduction every five years
thereafter through to 2050; and
iii. Urge Congress and the Administration to enact a multi-sector national program of
requirements, market-based limits, and incentives for reducing GHG emissions to 80
percent below current levels by 2050.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Oakland County will take immediate steps to identify
regional climate change impacts and will draft and implement a county plan to prepare for and
build resilience to those impacts.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Oakland County Clerk is requested to forward copies of
this adopted resolution to the Sierra Club's National Headquarters, Sierra Club's Michigan
office, Sierra Club's Oakland County Chapter, and the Michigan Association of Counties.
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Resolution #08123 June 12, 2008
The Chairperson referred the resolution to the Planning and Building Committee. There were no
objections.