HomeMy WebLinkAboutGHG Reduction Target ResolutionDRAFT RESOLUTION
(CARRIED LOST LAID OVER WITHDRAW
PURPOSE: GHG Target (ICLEI Milestone 2)
INITIATED BY: Steve Barney
Whereas, some grants require a sustainability or climate action plan for the mitigation of climate
change, either as a prerequisite or a factor in the application process.
Whereas, Oskhosh Common Council resolution 07 -262, which was passed on Sept 11, 2007,
voluntariliy adopted the Kyoto Protocol's GHG mitigation target of 7% below 1990 by 2012 as a
community -wide target for the City of Oshkosh, but the City of Oshkosh has not yet drafted a
plan to meet that target, and the City appears to be very unlikely to achieve that target by 2012.
Whereas, Oskhosh Common Council resolution 08 -295, which unanimously passed on Aug 26,
2008, directs the City of Oshkosh to follow ICLEI's five milestones, which include:
(2) "Establish a greenhouse gas emissions reduction target," and
(3) "Devolop an action plan with both existing and future actions which when implemented will
meet the local greenhouse gas reduction target."
Whereas, current global average per- capita emissions are about 4 tons CO2 /year, while average
per capita in the US is about 4 or 5 times that level, at about 20 tons CO2 /year, and the average
in the City of Oshkosh is probably close to the US average.
[fact check]
Whereas, the Copenhagen Accord, under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate
Change (UNFCCC), was signed by the US in Jan 2010, and the US thereby pledged to reduce its
GHG emissions inline by a global mean temperature (GMT) target of 2 degrees Celcius above
the pre- industrial GMT.
Whereas, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), to meet a 2
degrees C target, global emissions must peak by 2015, and then decline in the range of 50% to
85% below 2000 by 2050.
[2007 IPCC AR4 WG3, Table 3.10 in Chapter 3, pg 329
< http : / /www.ipcc.ch/pdf /assessment- report/ar4 /wg3 /ar4 - wg3- chapter3.pdf >]
Whereas, a letter dated Jan 28, 2010, to the Executive Secretary of the United Nations
Framework Convention on Climate Change, from U.S. Special Envoy for Climate Change,
officially indicates the desire of the United States "to be associated with the Copenhagen
Accord," and sets forth its "Quantified economy -wide emissions targets for 2020" as "In the
range of 17 %, in conformity with anticipated U.S. energy and climate legislation, recognizing
that the final target will be reported to the Secretariat in light of enacted legislation," below the
2005 base year. Furthermore, that letter notes that "The pathway set forth in pending legislation
would entail a 30% reduction in 2025 and a 42% reduction in 2030, in line with the goal to
reduce emissions 83% by 2050." The rate of reduction for those targets is approximately 2% per
year.
[source: "United States association with Copenhagen Accord," United States Department of
State, Office of the Special Envoy for Climate Change
<unfccc.int/files/ meetings / application /pdf/unitedstatescphaccord_ app. l .pdf >]
Whereas, a US target of 17% below 2005 by 2020 is approximately equivalent to acheiving the
US target under Kyoto Protocol (7% below 1990 by 2012) by 2020, instead of 2012.
[fact check]
Whereas, "On January 29, 2010, President Barack Obama announced that the Federal
Government will reduce its greenhouse gas (GHG) pollution by 28 percent by 2020. Reducing
and reporting GHG pollution, as called for in Executive Order 13514 on Federal Sustainability,
will ensure that the Federal Government leads by example in building the clean energy
economy." And "To ensure accountability, annual progress will be measured and reported online
to the public.
[sources:
Whitehouse Blog: "President Obama Sets Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Target for
Federal Operations"
<http: / /www.whitehouse.gov /blog /2010 /01/29 /president - obama- sets - greenhouse- gas - emissions-
reduction- target- federal - operations >;
Whitehouse Press Release: "President Obama Sets Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Target
for Federal Operations"
<http://www.whitehouse.gov / the - press -office /president - obama- sets - greenhouse- gas - emissions-
reduction- target- federal - operations >]
Whereas, the early adoption of low carbon infrustructure allows lower cost for mitigation, avoids
the "carbon lock -in" of long lived carbon intensive infrustructure.
BE IT RESOLVED that the Sustainability Advisory Board advises the Oshkosh Common
Council and City Manager to set an annual greenhouse gas emissions reduction target of
approximately 3% per year, or 30% below the 2007 baseline by 2020, for municipal operations
(emissions from all municipal owned or operated facilities).
BE IT Further RESOLVED that the Sustainability Advisory Board advises the Oshkosh
Common Council and City Manager to set an annual average per capita greenhouse gas
emissions reduction target of 2% per year, or 20% below the 2007 baseline by 2020, for
community -wide greenhouse gas emissions (emissions from all public and private sources within
the jurisdiction of the City of Oshkosh).