TITLE
A Resolution of the County of Allegheny, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, urging the Chief Executive to take action to reduce global warming pollution levels in Allegheny County by meeting or exceeding the Kyoto Protocol target for the United States, which calls for a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by seven percent (7%) below 1990 levels by 2012.
BODY
WHEREAS, the Inter-Governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the international community's most respected assemblage of scientists, has found that climate disruption is a reality and that human activities are largely responsible for increasing concentrations of global warming pollution; and
WHEREAS, the Kyoto Protocol, an international agreement to address climate disruption, is in effect in the 163 countries that have ratified it to date; with 38 of those countries having implemented legal requirements to reduce greenhouse gas emissions on average 5.2 percent below 1990 levels by 2012; and
WHEREAS, in July 2006, on the occasion of the G8 Summit, the G8 countries will gather in Russia to address the major challenges of climate change, energy sustainability and security; and
WHEREAS, although the United States officially withdrew from the Kyoto Protocol in 2001, over 200 cities and counties in 38 states have pledged to reduce their global warming emissions, and these local governments are lowering energy bills, saving taxpayer dollars, and protecting our environment; and
WHEREAS, many cities and counties 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, Allegheny County is committed to the effort 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, methane recovery for energy generation, waste to energy, geothermal, wind and solar energy, fuel cells, efficient motor vehicles, and bio-fuels; and
WHEREAS, by taking innovative, responsible energy-saving steps like making buildings more energy efficient, promoting transportation alternatives, reducing waste, and investing in more fuel-efficient vehicles and clean renewable energy sources, Allegheny County is leading the way to a better, cleaner, and safer future;
The Council of the County of Allegheny hereby resolves as follows:
Section 1.
Council hereby requests that the Chief Executive aim to reduce global warming pollution levels in Allegheny County by meeting or exceeding the Kyoto Protocol target set for the United States, which calls for a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by seven percent (7%) below 1990 levels by 2012. In order to achieve this target Allegheny County shall promote energy efficiency, promotion of clean and affordable energy sources and systems, development of local energy resources and systems, relying upon local industry to the greatest extent practicable, promotion of cost-effective economic instruments that can help to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases, and promotion of waste management and reuse/reduce/recycle activities. Council further requests that the Chief Executive explore other means of increasing the County's renewable energy use for the benefit of the County's residents and businesses, through cost savings in lower electricity bills, protection and health of the environment and by generating growth to the economy within Allegheny County.
Section 2. Severability. If any provision of this Ordinance shall be determined to be unlawful, invalid, void or unenforceable, then that provision shall be considered severable from the remaining provisions of this Ordinance which shall be in full force and effect.
Section 3. Repealer. Any Resolution or Ordinance or part thereof conflicting with the provisions of this Ordinance is hereby repealed so far as the same affects this Ordinance.