HomeMy WebLinkAbout4995-22 Climate Recovery & Our Commitment to Develop a Climate Action Plan RESOLUTION
No. 4995-22
Passed by the Common Council of the City of South Bend, Indiana
December 12, 20 22
Attest: 7(--- City Clerk
Dawn M. Jones
r
Attest. IVO( fit President of Common Council
Presented by me to the Mayor of the City of South Bend, Indiana
December 13, 20 22
4 / 7,,,z
,,zzd) City Clerk
Dawn M. Jones
Approved and signed by me D u t"A., i`/ 20 Z L
17 ` ----- Mayor
BILL NO. 22-60
RESOLUTION NO.4994-22
AN UPDATED AND SUPERCEDING RESOLUTION OF THE SOUTH BEND COMMON
COUNCIL CONCERNING CLIMATE RECOVERY AND OUR COMMITMENT TO
DEVELOP A CLIMATE ACTION PLAN AIMED AT GREENHOUSE GAS
REDUCTIONS FOR THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND AND TO SUPPORT OTHER
CLIMATE RELATED INITIATIVES.
WHEREAS, scientific consensus concludes that it is extremely likely that the dominant
cause of ongoing climate change is the emission of heat-trapping gases by human actions,
primarily from the combustion of fossil fuels; and the more carbon dioxide in our
atmosphere, the warmer our planet gets. Per the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA), carbon has not been this highly concentrated in the atmosphere in
the past 800,000 years; in fact, according to NOAA, the five-year period, 2014-2018, are the
warmest years ever recorded 1; and
WHEREAS, in 1988, NASA's Dr. James Hanson testified before Congress on the impending
perils of climate change, and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) was
established by the United Nations and the World Meteorological Association, and has since
released five climate assessments with each affirming: the planet is getting warmer and
humans are causing it through our carbon emissions, and unless we reduce emissions, there
are serious environmental consequences in our future. Both the 1997 Kyoto Protocol2 and the
2015 Parisi Agreement challenged nations to reduce greenhouse emissions and thereby, limit
climate change, and the 2019 IPCC report just released in January advocates for policies
aimed at temperature targets under one point five (1.5) degrees Celsius, and further
acknowledged that the impact of even a one point five (1.5) degrees Celsius rise will pose
drastic impact on the Earth's ecosystems and inhabitants4; and
WHEREAS, climate change already poses risks at the global, state, and local level, impacts
evidenced around the world are changes in precipitation (intensification of both drought and
storm effects), ocean acidification, coral reef degradation, loss of species, threats to marine
life and biodiversity, rising sea levels threatening food supplies and livelihoods, and forced
emigration of coastal populations. In addition, extreme weather events, temperatures, and
air pollutants can acutely impact human health. The elderly, young, homeless, and people
with chronic diseases, or respiratory illnesses (such as asthma) are particularly sensitive to
extreme temperatures contributing to increase hospital visits, health care costs, and
mortality. Another health effect of climate change is the spread of disease such as Lyme and
the Zika Virus which are transmitted by ticks and mosquitoes that thrive in hot, humid
environments5; and
WHEREAS, Indiana and South Bend will certainly share in some of these impacts, already
documented or projected effects include, but are not limited to: record breaking heat waves
and high humidity (with accompanying increased demand for cooling), reduced water and air
quality, decreased agricultural productivity (e.g., of corn and soybean crops); increased heavy
rainfall leading to more flooding, shorter winters and delayed fall freeze (e.g., extending the
ragweed allergy season), increased invasive species; loss of plant, fish and wildlife habitats6;
and
1 httos://www,nationalgeogra phic,com/environment/2019/02/2018-fourth-warmest-vear-ever-noaa-nasa
reports/
2 UNFCCC {1997) Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change adopted at COP3
3 Jlttos:// unfccc.int/resource/bigoicture/#content-the-oaris-aareement
4 https://www.ipcc.ch/
5 Jittp://docs.southbendin.aov/WebLink/Browse.aspx?dbid=0&startid=279856&row=l&cr=1
6 Purdue Climate Change Research Center's 2019 Indiana Climate Change Impacts Assessment;
https://aa.ourdue.edu/i ndi anaclimate/
WHEREAS, these and other impacts will not be equally distributed; communities that already
face socioeconomic and health inequities, whether around the world or here in our
community, will be most severely impacted, including youth, senior, people of color, and low-
income populations; and
WHEREAS, City services, infrastructure, our local economy, the natural environment, public
health, and our homes and businesses are endangered by climate change; and Cities have a
primary duty and responsibility to ensure the public health, safety, and welfare of its residents
- both now and in future generations; and
WHEREAS, Cities are uniquely empowered to take proactive, resolute, and prompt measures
to directly influence activities that have climate impacts, such as energy use in homes and
buildings, transportation, and by promoting sustainable development; and
WHEREAS, the Common Council, in February of 2019 at two joint committee hearings of
Health and Public Safety and Utilities Committees, were presented with clear and compelling
science, public testimony, letters, and petitions by local youth of all ages and other community
members, to take immediate, real, and lasting legislative actions to reduce emissions of
greenhouse gases and thus reduce global warming and contribute to the recovery of our
planet; and
WHEREAS, Climate action provides opportunities for South Bend to improve our air
quality, mobility, public health, social equity, energy independence and energy security, and
the quality of our natural environment; it also can serve to attract jobs and economic
development opportunity and increase long-term competitiveness. Action on climate
change supports the development of a livable, sustainable City with a strong economy and
high quality of life.
Action can also improve resilience in face of climate change and other challenges; and
WHEREAS, South Bend has pursued various climate action with Mayor Stephen Luecke
having signed the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement in 2008, convened the Green
Ribbon Commission in 2009, and founded the Municipal Energy Office in 2010. In 2014,
Mayor Pete Buttigieg created the Office of Sustainability and reconvened the Green Ribbon
Commission, an advisory body of local climate and sustainability experts. The South Bend
Common Council, in 2016, unanimously passed the Cleaner Energy Resolution, and then, in
2018 signed on with Mayor Buttigieg to a "Repower Indiana" letter calling for 100% clean
energy use by our utility supplier. In 2017, Mayor Pete Buttigieg signed the "We're Still In"
letter, joining Climate Mayors world-wide affirming a commitment to the Paris Agreement
on Climate,despite the United States' formal withdrawal from the talks; and
WHEREAS, this and previous Councils have also supported other energy efficiency and
renewable energy initiatives in the municipal budget, including but not limited to, energy
and water-efficient facilities, alternative fuel vehicles, reducing waste and paper use, and
robust community education and engagement endeavors. The City of South Bend actively
influences sustainable behaviors in our community, encouraging biking and walking,
supporting mass transit,yard waste and recycling opportunities,and advocating for clean and
affordable energy; and
WHEREAS, by way of executive authority in April of 2018, Mayor Pete Buttigieg committed
to the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy, and effectively joined South Bend
to 9,296 cities representing 814 million people in a pledge to implement policies and to
undertake measures to (i) reduce/limit greenhouse emissions, (ii) prepare for the impacts of
climate change,
(iii) increase access to sustainable energy, and (iv) track progress of these policies and
measures in meeting or exceeding the Paris Agreement objectives;and
WHEREAS, in keeping with our pledge, our City has already measured and reported both our
community and government operation levels of greenhouse gases, we are next poised under
this global framework on climate action to set a greenhouse gas reduction goal and create a
climate action plan encompassing not only the City of South Bend's operations, but our
community as a whole as defined by the geographic limits of our City; and
WHEREAS, the Common Council, on November 28, 2019, passed Resolution 4787-19,
entitled "A Resolution of the South Bend Common Council Concerning Climate Recovery and
Our Commitment to Develop a Climate Action Plan Aimed at Greenhouse Gas Reductions for
the City of South Bend and to Support Other Climate Related Initiatives"; and
WHEREAS, Resolution 4787-19 stated: "Both the municipal greenhouse gas inventory and the
community greenhouse inventory will be updated every 3 years, and the climate action plan
updated on a 3-year cycle"; and that best practices require an updated climate action plan on a 5-
year cycle instead of a 3-year cycle.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED the South Bend Common Council hereby supports the
City Administration's current Q2-Q3-2019 initiative to develop a climate action plan that:
specifies climate actions most impactful in South Bend, identifies ambitious but achievable
greenhouse gas reduction goals customized to South Bend, includes both immediate internal
actions and longer-term programs and policies, and outlines appropriate timelines for
implementing the specific climate actions and achieving the greenhouse gas reductions, and
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, the South Bend Common Council requests this plan
be completed by the Fall of 2019, and the administration's planning process include
appropriate stakeholder feedback, consider Council and administration priorities, including
but not limited to opportunities for climate action to increase social equity, maximizing
benefits and minimizing impacts on individuals and businesses; and consideration of any
action through the lens of the "triple bottom line." This approach posits we can slow the
pace of climate change in ways that save money, build a better quality of life for our
residents, and drive economic growth.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, and to this end of triple net returns, the South Bend
Common Council will look to support the administration's current and future internal policies, and
community-focused measures to reduce greenhouse emissions. Accordingly, Council will
respond to administration proposals; act to adopt proposed plans, goals, targets, and measures
as appropriate, including the consideration of a local ordinance or ordinances by the end of
2019; and to ensure adequate funding and staffing for adopted operational climate and
community priorities.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, the South Bend Common Council also sets, henceforth,
that the administration create an iterative process of setting goals, tracking progress, and
reporting. Specifically, Council and the community will be provided annual progress reports
on the climate action plan well in advance of the budget planning process. Both the municipal
greenhouse gas inventory and the community greenhouse inventory will be updated every 3
years, and the climate action plan updated on a 5-year cycle.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, Council will seek opportunities to demonstrate
climate leadership in Indiana, throughout the Midwest, and in our own community. It will
also support the work of the Office of Sustainability and the Administration in doing the
same, including collaboration with other governmental entities and agencies, assisting in
engaging community stakeholders, and through public-private partnerships. These
'httDs://www.globalcovenantofmavors.org
relationships and activities will be essential to the design, funding, implementation, and
attainment of our community's climate action plan goals.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that this Council commits itself today, and strongly urges
future members of the South Bend Common Council, our Mayor's office, and our citizenry to remain
engaged in and committed to climate action. Working together, we can confront what has been
considered one of the greatest challenges of our time in proactive and strategic ways that benefit our
community, our county, and our world.
Approved this 12th day of December 2022.
a/V7)(` VI/ C?1,-;;IL
Sharo M Bnde, President,
South Bend Common Council
Attest:
6,,A)
Dawn M. Jones, City Cler
Office of the City Clerk
Presented by me,the undersigned Clerk of the City of South Bend,to the Mayor of the City
of South Bend, Indiana on the /oZ `" day of December 2022 at J/ o'clock GL. m.
6ite '
Dawn M. Jones, City Cler
Office of the City Clerk
Approved and signed by me, on the It hi day of December 2022, at?o'clock
m.
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James ueller,Mayor
City Eouth Bend