Title
Resolution to Endorse Ann Arbor's Participation in Earth Hour on March 28, 2009
Body
Whereas, The Ann Arbor community is deeply concerned about the impacts of climate change and the future health and well-being of our planet and believes energy efficiency, natural resource conservation, and a demand by the voting public for action by elected officials are important elements to combating climate change;
Whereas, The City of Ann Arbor is nationally-recognized as a leader in combating climate change by improving energy efficiency, reducing fossil energy use, and promoting renewable energy;
Whereas, Earth Hour is both an international and local symbolic event organized by World Wildlife Fund to raise awareness about climate change issues, to encourage businesses, individuals and government to take actions to reduce their carbon emissions and their impact on the environment in their daily lives and operations;
Whereas, Earth Hour asks all citizens, businesses, government agencies, and commercial and non-commercial establishments to turn off all non-essential lighting for one hour beginning at 8:30 pm on March 28, 2009 and to encourage citizens and businesses to commit to actions they can take in the coming year to reduce their carbon footprints and conserve energy;
Whereas, If every household installs one CFL, annual energy savings will reach approximately 18 gigawatt-hours per year, or 1.3% of total residential energy demand;
Whereas, Earth Hour will be used as a tool to inform local residents and businesses about existing information and tools already available within the community to assist them in increasing energy efficiency and decreasing emissions and use of natural resources;
Whereas, Extinguishing or dimming all non-essential lights in City Hall and streetlights along Main Street for one hour and urging all businesses and citizens to do the same will send a clear message that the people of Ann Arbor in the State of Michigan in the United States of America are concerned about climate change, stand with the rest of the world in seeking solutions and are demanding that elected leaders act immediately to take measures that will help fight global climate change effort to stop climate change, including the passage of legislation and good-faith participation in global climate treaty negotiations in Copenhagen in December 2009; and
Whereas, Turning off or dimming all non-essential lights in City Hall and along Main Street will serve as an important rallying point for the city-wide energy conservation event Earth Hour;
RESOLVED, That the City of Ann Arbor endorses efforts by World Wildlife Fund through Earth Hour to raise awareness around global climate change and energy efficiency;
RESOLVED, That the City of Ann Arbor encourages city employees to turn off all non-essential lighting in city government buildings and public landmarks for the hour between 8:30 and 9:30 PM on March 28, 2009 to conserve energy and raise awareness about global climate change as part of the city-wide energy conservation event: Earth Hour Ann Arbor; and
RESOLVED, That Ann Arbor City Council declares March 28, 2009 to be "WWF's Earth Hour" day in the City of Ann Arbor.