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2017-046 Climate Action Agreement ComparisonDate: June 30, 2017 Report No. 2017-046 INFORMAL STAFF REPORT TO MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL _____________________________________________________________________________ SUBJECT Comparison of the Mayors Climate Protection Agreement and the Mayors National Climate Action Agenda BACKGROUND At the June 20th City Council Meeting, staff was asked to compare the Mayors Climate Protection Agreement and the Mayors National Climate Action Agenda. A brief description and chart comparing the commitments asked of Mayors under each agreement is attached as well as more detailed information about both programs. The U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement 2005 The United States Conference of Mayors (USCM) worked with several Mayors to develop the Mayors Climate Protection Agreement (“Agreement”) which has been in place since 2005. The Agreement acknowledged that Mayors are on the front lines of impacting human behavior – from their work on recycling to public health initiatives, they are changing human behavior every day. This is one of many reasons why 1,060 mayors continue to join The U.S. Conference of Mayors’ Climate Protection Agreement, vowing to reduce carbon emissions in their cities below 1990 levels, in line with the Kyoto Protocol. Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels was the founder of this movement. There have been several resolutions passed by USCM over the last 12 years that have reinforced the commitment to climate action by supporting actions to achieve the overarchin g goals of the Agreement. The City of Denton signed onto this Agreement April 6, 2005. Mayors National Climate Action Agenda By calling for national and international binding emission reductions agreements, establishing stronger inventory standards and reporting, committing to a set of local actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and growing the carbon offset market by removing barriers to municipal offset projects, the Mayors’ National Climate Action Agenda is intended to make a statement that emission reduction projects – starting with existing cap and trade programs in the US - are not only viable, but essential initiatives that must be embraced and scaled across the country. Finally, Mayors Garcetti, Parker and Nutter will initiate a mayor-to-mayor, city-to-city outreach effort to bring mayors together over the coming year to develop a shared framework for local leadership and action. The Mayors’ National Climate Action Agenda was formed in 2014 with fewer than 27 cities, but has recently grown in the last month to 338 signatories after this group launched an initiative to honor the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement. In 2015, the Action Agenda originally listed seven items for cities to accomplish shown in Attachment 1. However, to sign up to join under the Paris Agreement letter only four items are listed (below) which were reviewed in the Council presentation. Date: June 30, 2017 Report No. 2017-046 1. Developing a community Greenhouse Gas (GHG) inventory 2. Setting near- and long-term targets to reduce emissions in line with that required by the Paris Agreement. 3. Developing a Climate Action Plan aligned with the city's targets, and 4. Resourcing City-led activities to demonstrate year-on-year progress. ATTACHMENTS 1. Side by side comparison of 2005 Mayors Climate Protection Agreement and 2015 Mayors National Climate Action Agenda. 2. 2005 Mayors Climate Protection Agreement Documents 3. 2015 Mayors National Climate Action Agenda Overview ATTACHMENT 1 - Side by Side Comparison 2005 Mayors Climate Protection Agreement (12) 2015 Mayors National Climate Action Agenda (7) Inventory global warming emissions in City operations and in the community, set reduction targets and create an action plan Calling for binding emission reductions at the US federal level as well as a global emission reductions agreement; Adopt and enforce land-use policies that reduce sprawl, preserve open space, and create compact, walkable urban communities Engaging in and supporting activities leading up to and during the 2015 negotiations in Paris to support the Obama Administration and other parties to create a global agreement; Promote transportation options such as bicycle trails, commute trip reduction programs, incentives for carpooling and public transit Establishing and regularly reporting annually or bi- annually a municipal and community-wide GHG inventory (preferably with third party verification), while supporting standardization of municipal and community-wide inventories and reporting; Increase the use of clean, alternative energy by, for example, investing in “green tags” advocating for the development of renewable energy resources, and recovering landfill methane for energy production Establishing, or renewing, an existing aggressive GHG emissions reduction target for both the near term (i.e., by 2020 or sooner) and long term (e.g., 80% reductions by 2050); Make energy efficiency a priority through building code improvements, retrofitting city facilities with energy efficient lighting and urging employees to conserve energy and save money Developing, or updating, a community climate action plan, which identifies specific strategies for meeting the emissions reduction target as well as tying mitigation with adaptation measures where possible; Purchase only Energy Star equipment and appliances for City use Committing to finding an appropriate offset project(s), working collectively to remove barriers, and expanding offsets available to municipalities offered by the Climate Action Reserve, and other measures through the California cap and trade system (or other existing system); Practice and promote sustainable building practices using the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED program or a similar system. Ensuring climate equity and environmental justice is prioritized in climate action plans. Increase the average fuel efficiency of municipal fleet vehicles; reduce the number of vehicles; launch an employee education program including anti-idling messages; convert diesel vehicles to bio-diesel Evaluate opportunities to increase pump efficiency in water and wastewater systems; recover wastewater treatment methane for energy production Increase recycling rates in City operation and in the community Maintain healthy urban forests; promote tree planting to increase shading and to absorb CO2 Help educate the public, schools, other jurisdiction , professional associations, business and industry about reducing global warming pollution ATTACHMENT 2 The U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement 2005 ENDORSING THE US MAYORS' CLIMATE PROTECTION AGREEMENT WHEREAS, the U.S. Conference of Mayors has previously adopted strong policy resolutions calling for cities, communities and the federal government to take actions to reduce global warming pollution; and WHEREAS, the Inter-Governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the international community's most respected assemblage of scientists, is clear that there is no longer any credible doubt that climate disruption is a reality and that human activities are largely responsible for increasing concentrations of global warming pollution; and WHEREAS, recent, well-documented impacts of climate disruption include average global sea level increases of four to eight inches during the 20th century; a 40% decline in Arctic sea-ice thickness; and nine of the ten hottest years on record occurring in the past decade; and WHEREAS, climate disruption of the magnitude now predicted by the scientific community will cause extremely costly disruption of human and natural systems throughout the world including: increased risk of floods or droughts; sea-level rises that interact with coastal storms to erode beaches, inundate land, and damage structures; more frequent and extreme heat waves, more frequent and greater concentrations of smog; and WHEREAS, on February 16, 2005, the Kyoto Protocol, an international agreement to address climate disruption, entered into force in the 141 countries that have ratified it to date; 38 of those countries are now legally required to reduce greenhouse gas emissions on average 5.2 percent below 1990 levels by 2012; and WHEREAS, the United States of America, with less than five percent of the world's population, is responsible for producing approximately 25% of the world's global warming pollutants yet is not a party to the Kyoto Protocol; and WHEREAS, the Kyoto Protocol emissions reduction target for the U.S., had it ratified the treaty, would have been 7% below 1990 levels by 2012; and WHEREAS, many leading US companies that have adopted greenhouse gas reduction programs to demonstrate corporate social responsibility have also publicly expressed preference for the US to adopt precise and mandatory emissions targets and timetables as a means by which to remain competitive in the international marketplace, to mitigate financial risk and to promote sound investment decisions; and WHEREAS, state and local governments throughout the United States are adopting emission reduction targets and programs and that this leadership is bipartisan, coming from Republican and Democratic governors and mayors alike; and WHEREAS, many cities throughout the nation, both large and small, are reducing global warming pollutants through programs that provide economic and quality of life benefits such as reduced energy bills, green space preservation, air quality improvements, reduced traffic congestion, improved transportation choices, and economic development and job creation through energy conservation and new energy technologies; and WHEREAS, mayors from around the nation have signed the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement which reads: A. We urge the federal government and state governments to enact policies and programs to meet or beat the Kyoto Protocol target of reducing global warming pollution levels to7% below 1990 levels by 2012, including efforts to: reduce the United States' dependence on fossil fuels and accelerate the development of clean, economical energy resources and fuel-efficient technologies such as conservation, urethane recovery for energy generation, wind and solar energy, fuel cells, efficient motor vehicles, and biofuels; B. We urge the U.S. Congress to pass the bipartisan Climate Stewardship Act sponsored by Senators McCain and Lieberman and Representatives Gilchrist and Olver, which would create a flexible, market-based system of tradable allowances among emitting industries; and C. We will strive to meet or exceed Kyoto Protocol targets for reducing global warming pollution by taking actions in our own operations and communities such as: 1. Inventory global warming emissions in City operations and in the community, set reduction targets and create an action plan. 2. Adopt and enforce land-use policies that reduce sprawl, preserve open space, and create compact, walkable urban communities; 3. Promote transportation options such as bicycle trails, commute trip reduction programs, incentives for carpooling and public transit; 4. Increase the use of clean, alternative energy by, for example, investing in "green tags" advocating for the development of renewable energy resources, and recovering landfill methane for energy production; 5. Make energy efficiency a priority through building code improvements, retrofitting city facilities with energy efficient lighting and urging employees to conserve energy and save money; 6. Purchase only Energy Star equipment and appliances for City use; 7. Practice and promote sustainable building practices using the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED program or a similar system; 8. Increase the average fuel efficiency of municipal fleet vehicles; reduce the number of vehicles; launch an employee education program including anti-idling messages; convert diesel vehicles to bio-diesel; 9. Evaluate opportunities to increase pump efficiency in water and wastewater systems; recover wastewater treatment methane for energy production; 10. Increase recycling rates in City operations and in the community; 11. Maintain healthy urban forests; promote tree planting to increase shading and to absorb CO2; and 12. Help educate the public, schools, other jurisdictions, professional associations, business and industry about reducing global warming pollution. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the U.S. Conference of Mayors endorses the US Mayors Climate Protection Agreement and urges mayors from around the nation to join this effort. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, The U.S. Conference of Mayors will establish a formal relationship with International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI) Cities for Climate Protection Program to track progress and implementation of the US Mayors Climate Protection Agreement ATTACHMENT 3 Mayors ’ National Climate Action Agenda An initiative to combat climate change and prepare for global warming. Background Climate science clearly shows the globe is warming at an alarming rate due to greenhouse gas emissions (GHG). Given that cities are responsible for 70% of all GHGs and are on the front lines of climate events and impacts, mayors are uniquely compelled and equipped to lead on the fight to stem climate change, as well as to adapt to it and prepare for the impacts of global warming. The unwillingness of the US Congress to support binding emission reductions further underlines the importance for mayors and cities to not only reduce GHGs but also help to create urgency for both federal cap and trade legislation and a global climate agreement. Mayors have a unique voice and credibility to lend that is not currently well represented in the general discourse on climate change. Cities across the country are taking action, recognizing that the changing climate has tremendous implications for the livability, competitiveness and resilience of communities. Local governments have a major role to play in advocating for both federal legislation and international cooperation. Over the coming year, U.S. mayors leading on the fight against global warming will come together to help build support and political will for President Obama to lead globally in creating an international agreement to be signed at the 2015 Paris COP. With subnational governments having a seat at the table for the first time in the UNFCC process, mayors also can play a direct role to support the international agreement. Overview While serving on President Obama’s Climate Preparedness and Resiliency Task Force, the Mayors of the largest cities represented – Los Angeles, Houston and Philadelphia – each recognized the urgency and need to join together in not just calling for action, but taking action on climate change. As mayors of three of the United States’ five largest cities, Eric Garcetti, Annise Parker, and Michael Nutter know how to solve tough problems. With cities on the front lines of climate change, Mayors Garcetti, Parker, and Nutter are launching the Mayors National Climate Action Agenda to build on their work from the President’s Climate Task Force as well as through a number of other initiatives in which they share involvement, including: C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group, the U.S. Conference of Mayors, and the Urban Sustainability Directors Network. The Agenda will compliment and build off of these existing initiatives (as well as others such as ICLEI, etc.) but focus on mayor- to-mayor engagement, with the goal of building up the voice and presence of mayors on this critical issue. Each mayor recognizes that they have an obligation to lead nationally on the shared challenge of mitigating GHGs, as well as preparing for the impacts of climate pollution. They hope that local leadership can ultimately model and drive a federal agenda towards binding emissions targets and a global climate agreement. The Mayors National Climate Action Agenda Mayors Garcetti, Parker, Nutter and each additional Mayor and city that join the initiative commit to: 1. Calling for binding emission reductions at the US federal level as well as a global emission reductions agreement; 2. Engaging in and supporting activities leading up to and during the 2015 negotiations in Paris to support the Obama Administration and other parties to create a global agreement; 3. Establishing and regularly reporting annually or bi-annually a municipal and community-wide GHG inventory (preferably with third party verification), while supporting standardization of municipal and community-wide inventories and reporting; 4. Establishing, or renewing, an existing aggressive GHG emissions reduction target for both the near term (i.e., by 2020 or sooner) and long term (e.g., 80% reductions by 2050); 5. Developing, or updating, a community climate action plan, which identifies specific strategies for meeting the emissions reduction target as well as t ying mitigation with adaptation measures where possible; 6. Committing to finding an appropriate offset project(s), working collectively to remove barriers, and expanding offsets available to municipalities offered by the Climate Action Reserve, and other measures through the California cap and trade system (or other existing system); 7. Ensuring climate equity and environmental justice is prioritized in climate action plans.