9.6 SR 11-15-2021 - Laserfiche WebLink

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RESOLUTION DECLARING A CLIMATE EMERGENCY IN , MINNESOTA (Alternate Title: A RESOLUTION JOINING CITIES AND COUNTIES ACROSS MINNESOTA DECLARING A CLIMATE EMERGENCY AND ASKING THE STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENTS TO HELP ADDRESS IT AND PROVIDE VALUABLE RESOURCES) WHEREAS [Name of Community] has just this past year experienced numerous climate change related impacts including a record June heat wave, dangerous air quality from drought -fueled forest fires where even healthy people were encouraged to remain inside, and water restrictions from the same drought, making it clear that the climate crisis is not only a future issue — it is affecting us here and now; WHEREAS extreme weather will create new challenges for [Name of Community]'s infrastructure and finances and will pose a threat to the economic vitality of our residents and businesses; WHEREAS the greatest burden from an inadequate response to the climate crisis will be felt by historically marginalized or underserved communities as well as the youngest generation, including the children and grandchildren of [Name of Community]; WHEREAS in Minnesota, the ten warmest and wettest years ever recorded have all occurred since 1998, warming surface waters are leading to a significant loss of fish habitat for many prominent species as well as increasing the risk of harmful algae blooms, forests are changing as native northern species are strained by warming temperatures, crops are stressed by cycles of drought and floods, home insurance rates are rising far faster than the national average from an average of $368 in 1998 to $1348 in 2015, and faster warming winters are leading to new pests as well as shorter winter recreation seasons; WHEREAS, the bi-partisan Next Generation Energy Act, passed by the Minnesota State Legislature and signed by then Governor Tim Pawlenty in 2007, committed our State to achieving to an 80% reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2050 and with interim goals of 15% and 30% below 2005 GHG emissions levels by 2015 and 2025, respectively, with cities being key drivers of achieving these goals; WHEREAS, our State did not meet its 2015 goal, and is not yet on track to reach our future targets; WHEREAS, in April 2016 world leaders from 175 countries, including the United States, recognized the threat of climate change and the urgent need to combat it by signing the Paris Agreement, agreeing to "pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius";