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/
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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 practi...
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