Title
Communication from the Environmental Commission to City Council - Environmental Commission's Resolution Supporting Adoption of Ann Arbor Climate Action Plan
Staff
Matthew Naud, Environmental Coordinator, Systems Planning Unit
Nate Geisler, Energy Programs Associate, Systems Planning Unit
Memorandum
Whereas, The City of Ann Arbor has demonstrated a history of leadership in promoting energy conservation, energy efficiency, and renewable energy, developing its first Energy Plan in 1981 and establishing a citizen Energy Commission; and
Whereas, The City of Ann Arbor has 10 standing City Council-approved environmental goals set on July 16, 2007 in Resolution R-330-7-07 that include: "Eliminate net greenhouse gas emissions and other destabilizing climate impacts," and "Use 100% renewable energy"; and
Whereas, The City of Ann Arbor set updated Energy Challenge goals on April 19, 2011 in Resolution R-11-142 to reduce municipal greenhouse emissions 50% and community-wide emissions 8% by 2015 as well as increasing renewable energy targets; and
Whereas, City Council recently initiated Master Plan adoption of 16 goals on July 2, 2012 in Resolution R-12-300 as part of the Sustainability Framework, which includes Climate and Energy as one of four primary goal areas to advance local sustainability; and
Whereas, Ann Arbor City Council accepted a $50,000 dollar Pollution Prevention grant from the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality on September 7, 2010 in Resolution R-10-326 to develop a Climate Action Plan which outlines strategies to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions throughout the community to help meet the Energy Challenge and the goals outlined above; and
Whereas, The Ann Arbor Energy Commission, through its established bylaws, created a committee consisting of representatives from the Energy, Environmental, and Planning Commissions as well as other individuals representing outside organizations actively involved in climate change issues; and
Whereas, This special subcommittee worked with staff and consultants to develop new mid-term and long-term targets for greenhouse gas reductions and actions based on dozens of existing climate action plans from other U.S. cities and other emerging ideas; and
Whereas, Staff and the subcommittee presented findings and sought input from the public at the Climate and Energy Forum on March 8, 2012 and various public commission meetings since initiating the Plan's development; and
Whereas, The societal economic costs of not acting to mitigate climate change are expected to far exceed timely investments in emissions reduction measures, as documented in the UK's Stern Report of 2006 and other analyses; and
Whereas, The Ann Arbor Climate Action Plan sets mid-range targets that align with the University of Michigan to reduce community greenhouse emissions 25% by 2025, and an additional target of 90% by 2050 (from 2000 year baseline levels) to meet and surpass reductions necessary to avoid major climatic disruptions as cited by such bodies as the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC); and
Whereas, That as with all projects requiring significant city investment, relevant components of this Plan would come before City Council for ultimate authorization;
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, That the Environmental Commission recommends that the City Council should adopt the Ann Arbor Climate Action Plan to demonstrate continued leadership and progress towards reducing our community's greenhouse gas contributions, and that an implementation strategy be further developed based on Plan recommendations.