Title
Resolution Committing the City of Ann Arbor to Adopt, Honor and Uphold Paris Climate Agreement Goals
Body
Whereas, In December 2012, the Ann Arbor City Council passed the Climate Action Plan (CAP) an ambitious multi-strategy vision to reduce our community-wide emissions 8% by 2015, 25% by 2025, and 90% by 2050, relative to year 2000 baseline emissions levels;
Whereas, In December 2015, Mayor Taylor signed the Compact of Mayors, reflecting Ann Arbor’s efforts to:
• Increase visibility as leaders responding to climate change;
• Demonstrate our commitment to an ambitious global climate solution;
• Encourage direct public and private sector investments in cities by meeting transparent standards that are similar to those followed by national governments;
• Build a consistent and robust body of data on the impact of city action; and
• Accelerate more ambitious, collaborative, and sustainable local climate action;
Whereas, The Paris Climate Agreement was ratified in 2016 and brings all nations into a common cause to undertake ambitious efforts to combat climate change and adapt to its effects, with enhanced support to assist developing countries to do so. As such, it charts a new course in the global climate effort;
Whereas, On June 1, 2017, President Donald Trump indicated the United States would leave the Paris Agreement, joining only Syria and Nicaragua as countries not part of the agreement;
Whereas, Nicaragua is not part of the agreement because their leaders do not believe it does enough to combat climate change;
Whereas, Syria is not part of the agreement because it is in the midst of a civil war that has been raging since 2011; and
Whereas, For the Paris Climate Agreement to succeed, cities around the world must take action for they will account for one third of all global carbon emission reductions;
RESOLVED, That the City of Ann Arbor remains committed to following the guidelines of and meeting the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement, as articulated in its 2012 Climate Action Plan; and
RESOLVED, The City will continue to seek additional funding for both carbon emission mitigation and climate change adaptation.
Sponsored by: Councilmembers Smith, Frenzel, Krapohl, Ackerman and Warpehoski