City of Alexandria, Virginia
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: JUNE 7, 2017
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
FROM: MARK B. JINKS, CITY MANAGER /s/
DOCKET TITLE:
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Consideration of a Resolution Reaffirming the City’s Commitment to Combat Climate Change Through Endorsement of the Guidelines of the Paris Agreement. [ROLL-CALL VOTE]
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ISSUE: Consideration of a resolution reaffirming the City’s commitment to combat climate change through endorsement of the guidelines of the Paris Agreement.
RECOMMENDATION: That the City Council adopt the attached resolution.
BACKGROUND: On June 1, President Donald J. Trump announced his intention to withdraw the United States from the Paris Agreement, an international pact committing nearly all of the world’s countries to bold action against climate change. In response to the President’s action, many states and local jurisdictions across the United States pledged to continue to adhere to the Agreement’s core tenets. On June 2, the City of Alexandria signed on to the Mayors National Climate Action Agenda in voicing support for the Paris Agreement and pledging to continue to work toward the goals outlined in the accord.
DISCUSSION: The City of Alexandria’s 2008 Eco-City Charter and 2009 Environmental Action Plan are well-aligned with the goals of the Paris Agreement. As the first locality in the Commonwealth of Virginia to adopt an Eco-City Charter, the City of Alexandria has been at the forefront of progressive environmental change and action at the local level. The City continues to work toward positioning itself as a model of sustainability in its work to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve energy efficiencies, and implement renewable energy technologies.
Since 2009 the City has made significant progress in greenhouse gas reduction efforts through its smart growth transit-oriented development land use policies and practices; solid waste recycling and management; innovative transportation initiatives including expansion of transit services; the permanent shut-down of the coal fired Mirant Power Plant; and implementation of energy efficient and renewal energy technologies.
The attached resolution formally reaffirms the City Council’s commitment to combatting climate change, in keeping with the City of Alexandria’s 2008 Eco-City Charter and 2009 Environmental Action Plan, by standing with other states and localities and upholding the goals of the Paris Agreement under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
The attached resolution is consistent with the previously adopted, aspirational elements in the Environmental Action Plan.
NEXT STEPS: Early in FY 2018, staff will begin performing an update to the Environmental Action Plan that is expected to include development of new short, mid and long-term environmental action items, including more specific estimates on potential fiscal impacts.
City staff are currently preparing a compendium of climate change related actions that the City has taken since 2008 and a listing of initiatives currently underway. Staff will also continue exploring other initiatives/actions that the City could consider undertaking. Any actions that would require investment would be subject to funds being available to implement.
ATTACHMENT: Resolution
STAFF:
Emily A. Baker, Deputy City Manager
Yon Lambert, Director, Transportation and Environmental Services
William Skrabak, Deputy Director, Transportation and Environmental Services
Khoa Tran, Environmental Program Manager, Transportation & Environmental Services