RESOLUTION NO. _____________

BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, COUNTY OF SAN MATEO, STATE OF CALIFORNIA

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RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE COUNTY OF SAN MATEO’S ICLEI MEMBERSHIP AND CITIES FOR CLIMATE PROTECTION CAMPAIGN

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RESOLVED, by the Board of Supervisors of the County of San Mateo, State of California, that

WHEREAS, scientific consensus has developed that carbon dioxide (CO₂) and other greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere have a profound effect on the Earth’s climate; and

WHEREAS, in 2006 the U.S. National Climatic Data Center confirmed clear evidence of human influences on climate due to changes in greenhouse gases; and

WHEREAS, the U.S. Conference of Mayors endorsed the 2005 U.S. Mayors’ Climate Protection Agreement initiated by Seattle Mayor Nickels and signed by more than 700 mayors in the United States as of October 2007; and

WHEREAS, the Urban Environmental Accords adopted by local government delegates during UN World Environment Day 2005 call for reduced emissions through energy efficiency, land use and transportation planning, waste reduction, and wiser energy management; and

WHEREAS, in 2003 the American Geophysical Union adopted a Statement noting that human activities are increasingly altering the Earth’s climate and that natural influences cannot explain the rapid increase in near-surface temperatures observed during the second half of the 20^th century; and

WHEREAS, in 2001, at the request of the Administration, the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) reviewed and declared global warming a real problem likely due to human activities; and

WHEREAS, the 2000 U.S. Global Change Research Program’s (USGCRP) First National Assessment indicated that global warming has begun; and

WHEREAS, 162 countries including the United States pledged under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions; and

WHEREAS, energy consumption, specifically the burning of fossil fuels, accounts for more than 80% of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions; and

WHEREAS, local government actions taken to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase energy efficiency provide multiple local benefits by decreasing air pollution, creating jobs, reducing energy expenditures, and saving money for the local government, its businesses, and its residents; and

WHEREAS, the Cities for Climate Protection^® Campaign sponsored by ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability has invited the County of San Mateo to join ICLEI and become a partner in the Cities for Climate Protection Campaign.

NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY DETERMINED AND ORDERED that the that the County of San Mateo will join ICLEI as a Full Member and participate in the Cities for Climate Protection Campaign and, as a participant, pledges to take a leadership role in promoting public awareness about the causes and impacts of climate change.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the County of San Mateo will undertake the Cities for Climate Protection Campaign’s five milestones to reduce both greenhouse gas and air pollution emissions throughout the community, and specifically:

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Conduct a greenhouse gas emissions inventory and forecast to determine the source and quantity of greenhouse gas emissions in the jurisdiction;

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Establish a greenhouse gas emissions reduction target;

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Develop an action plan with both existing and future actions which when implemented will meet the local greenhouse gas reduction target;

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Implement the action plan; and

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Monitor and report progress; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the City/Town/County of ____________ requests assistance from ICLEI’s Cities for Climate Protection Campaign as it progresses through the milestones.

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