HomeMy WebLinkAboutIR 8875INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS
No. 8875
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council September 18, 2007
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SUBJECT: U.S. Conference of Mayors Climate Protection Agreement
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The U.S. Conference of Mayors concedes that scientific evidence exists to support the idea that climate
disruption is an urgent threat to the environmental and economic health of our communities. Many cities, in
this country and abroad, have existing strong local policies and programs in place to reduce global warming
pollution, but more action is needed at the local, state, and federal levels to meet the challenge. On
February 16, 2005 the Kyoto Protocol, an international agreement to address climate disruption, became
law for the 141 countries that have ratified it to date. On that day, Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels launched an
initiative to advance the goals of the Kyoto Protocol through leadership and action by at least 141
American cities.
As of today, over 600 cities across this nation have agreed to strive to reduce the production of greenhouse
gases in their cities. Under the U.S. Conference of Mayors Climate Protection Agreement, participating
cities commit to the following three actions:
• Strive to meet or beat the Kyoto Protocol targets in their own communities, through actions
ranging from anti- sprawl land -use policies to urban forest restoration projects to public
information campaigns;
• Urge their state governments, and the federal government, to enact policies and programs to
meet or beat the greenhouse gas emission reduction target suggested for the United States in the
Kyoto Protocol -- 7% reduction from 1990 levels by 2012; and
• Urge the U.S. Congress to pass the bipartisan greenhouse gas reduction legislation, which would
establish a national emission trading system.
While climate change is of global importance, the major air quality issue facing the North Texas region is
Ozone non - attainment. Ozone is not considered a greenhouse gas but its precursor chemicals (oxides of
nitrogen and volatile organic chemicals) are byproducts of the combustion of fossil fuels, which is the
major source for greenhouse gas. The activities currently undertaken by the City to reduce ozone emissions
help to also significantly reduce the amount of greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere.
The City of Fort Worth has been asked to join the U.S. conference of Mayors in support of the Mayors
Climate Protection Agreement. Specific information related to the agreement can be found online at
http: / /www,usmayors.or climateprotection/. On September 25, 2007, a resolution will be presented for
consideration committing the City to partnering with the U.S. Conference of Mayors membership in
support of the climate protection agreement. The resolution the City will be asked to sign is nonbinding
and does not detract from efforts currently in place that are designed to affect ozone pollution.
Please contact Brian Soemer, Director of Environmental Management, 817 -392 -8085 if you have questions
related to this issue.
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Charles R. Boswell
City Manager
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS