CITY OF HOMER
HOMER, ALASKA

Novak/Roberts

RESOLUTION 07-42(A)

A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF HOMER, ALASKA, EXPRESSING THE INTENT TO JOIN THE CITIES FOR CLIMATE PROTECTION CAMPAIGN LED BY ICLEI—LOCAL GOVERNMENTS FOR SUSTAINABILITY, AND PLEDGING TO UNDERTAKE A PROGRAM TO QUANTIFY GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS, SET A REASONABLE AND MEANINGFUL EMISSIONS REDUCTION TARGET, DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT AN ACTION PLAN TO MEET THE TARGET, AND MONITOR PROGRESS.

WHEREAS, science now provides unequivocal evidence that global temperatures are rising, due in large part to greenhouse gas emissions produced by human activity; and

WHEREAS, the effects of global warming are especially apparent in Alaska; where annual temperatures have increased 3-5° F and winter temperatures have increased 7-10º F over the last 40 years; and

WHEREAS, the Third Assessment Report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change projects that the Earth's average surface temperature will increase between 2.5° and 10.4°F (1.4°-5.8°C) between 1990 and 2100 if no major efforts are undertaken to reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases; and

WHEREAS, climate change poses a serious long-term threat to the state economy and to Homer, including impacts relating to rising sea levels, more frequent extreme weather events and coastal erosion, warming oceans and streams, ocean acidification, insect infestations, reduced rainfall/water supply, and increased risk of wildfires; and

WHEREAS, local government actions taken to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase energy efficiency provide multiple local benefits by decreasing air pollution, creating jobs, reducing energy expenditures, and saving money for the local government, its businesses and its residents; and

WHEREAS, the Homer City Council established the Global Warming Task Force in January 2007 to study and make recommendations to the City on ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and plan for the impacts of climate change; and

WHEREAS, many other U.S. cities are engaged in similar efforts, and more than 170 of these, including Anchorage, have joined the Cities for Climate Protection (CCP) Campaign spearheaded by the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI)—Governments for Local Sustainability; and

WHEREAS, ICLEI co-sponsored the September 2006 conference in Girdwood, “Strengthening Our Cities: Mayors Responding to Global Climate Change,” and has been a leader in supporting local action to address global warming around the world; and

CITY OF HOMER

RESOLUTION 07-42(A)

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WHEREAS, joining the CCP Campaign would provide many benefits to Homer, including software tools and other resources to assist in conducting baseline emission inventories and forecasts and in identifying potential measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the City of Homer recognizes that local action is one of the best tools available to address the threat of global climate change, and that we have a responsibility to do our part to reduce the use of non-renewable fossil fuels and reverse the trend of global warming, for the well-being of current and future generations; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City of Homer commits to participate in the ICLEI Cities for Climate Protection Campaign and, as a participant, pledges to take a leadership role in promoting public awareness about the benefits of reducing greenhouse gas emissions to local economies, resources, and residents. As a CCP Campaign participant, the City of Homer will undertake the following five milestones:

· conduct a greenhouse gas emissions inventory and forecast to determine the source and quantity of greenhouse gas emissions generated by human activity in Homer;

· establish a greenhouse gas emissions reduction target which is realistic and acceptable to Homer residents;

· develop an action plan which when implemented will meet the local greenhouse gas reduction target;

· implement the action plan; and

· monitor to assess progress;

and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that the City of Homer requests assistance from ICLEI’s Cities for Climate Protection Campaign as it progresses through the milestones.

PASSED AND ADOPTED BY THE HOMER CITY COUNCIL this 12^th day of March, 2007.

CITY OF HOMER

________________________ _____
JAMES C, HORNADAY, MAYOR

ATTEST:

______________________________

JO JOHNSON, CMC, CITY CLERK

Fiscal Note: $600 ICLEI membership fee/100-110-5235 $250/100-110-5210 $350