HomeMy WebLinkAbout105-R-1811 /26/2018
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A RESOLUTION
Adopting the City of Evanston Climate Action and Resilience Plan
WHEREAS, the City recognizes climate change as a major threat locally
and globally and that aggressive action is required locally to contain warming to 1.51
Celsius, which is the believed threshold to provide a reasonable chance for the survival
of human civilization and other complex life forms on this planet; and
WHEREAS, the primary local climate hazards Evanston is projected to
experience include: significant increase of instances of extreme heat, extreme weather
events including more intense precipitation, and fewer days below freezing; and
WHEREAS, the City believes it is imperative to have coordinated regional
and national action to address the challenges of climate change and implement
consistent sustainability practices throughout the region; and
WHEREAS, Evanston has a longstanding history of climate action and
planning dating back to 2005 with Mayor Morton's signing onto the U.S. Conference of
Mayors Climate Protection Agreement; and
WHEREAS, the City has successfully implemented two previous climate
action plans, Evanston Climate Action Plan (2008 — 2012) and the Livability Plan (2014
— 2016): and
WHEREAS, Evanston's greenhouse gas emissions peaked in 2008 and
have been reduced by 24% overall since 2005, and;
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WHEREAS, the City is a regional and national leader in sustainability as
evidenced by the 4-STAR Community Rating, the Mayor's Climate Protection Award,
the EPA Green Power Partnership, and the 2015 U.S. Earth Hour Capital Award; and
WHEREAS, the City and Mayor Stephen H. Hagerty have made
commitments to take meaningful and immediate action in reducing greenhouse gas
emissions and preparing for the impacts of climate change through We Are Still In,
Climate Mayors, Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy, STAR Community
Rating System, Sierra Club's Mayors for 100% Clean and Renewable Energy and the
Greenest Region Compact 2; and
WHEREAS, in September, 2017, Mayor Hagerty appointed seventeen
(17) community members to the Climate Action and Resilience Plan Working Group to
develop a community plan to aggressively reduce greenhouse gas emissions and
prepare for the impacts of climate change locally.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF EVANSTON, COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS, THAT:
SECTION 1: The foregoing recitals are found as fact and incorporated
herein by reference.
SECTION 2: The City Council adopts the Climate Action and Resilience
Plan and the goals within, including specifically:
• Community -wide carbon neutrality by 2050;
• 28% reduction in community -wide greenhouse gas emissions by 2025 in line with
the U.S.'s commitment to The Paris Agreement;
0 Community -wide Zero Waste by 2050;
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• 100% Clean and Renewable Electricity by 2030;
• 100% Clean and Renewable Energy for Municipal Operations by 2020;
• Adoption of the Illinois Sierra Club's definition of "Clean and Renewable Energy";
and
• Incorporation of up-to-date climate science and projections into relevant City
planning and policy decisions such a building codes, stormwater management
and facility maintenance.
SECTION 3: The City Council directs the City Manager to implement the
Climate Action and Resilience Plan beginning on January 1, 2019 and provide an
annual progress update in the first quarter of each year between 2019 and 2025.
SECTION 4: The City Manager and their designee are hereby authorized
and directed to sign, and the City Clerk hereby authorized and directed to attest, any
documents necessary to implement the terms of this resolution.
SECTION 5: This resolution shall be in full force and effect from and after
the date of its passage and approval in the manner required by law.
Attest:
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Devon Reid, City Clerk, -
Adopted: 0cc,e.,,beC t 0 , 2018
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Stephen Hage r
Approved as to form:
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Michelle L. Masoncup, Corporation Counsel
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