AR150

An Assembly Resolution urging New Jersey municipalities to support the initiatives of the United States Mayors Climate Protection Agreement to reduce global warming pollution.

Whereas, The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the international community’s most respected assemblage of climate scientists, has found that climate disruption is a reality and that human activities are largely responsible for increasing concentrations of global warming pollution; and

Whereas, The well-documented impacts of climate disruption include average global sea level increases of four to eight inches during the 20^th century, a 40 percent decline in Arctic sea-ice thickness, and nine of the 10 warmest years on record occurring in the last decade; and

Whereas, Climate disruption is an urgent threat to the environment and the economic health of New Jersey communities, including increased risk of floods or droughts, sea-level rises that interact with coastal storms to erode beaches and inundate land and damage structures, more frequent and extreme heat waves, and more frequent and greater concentrations of smog, requiring strong federal, state and local policies and programs to reduce global warming pollution; and

Whereas, Many cities throughout the nation, both large and small, are reducing global warming pollutants through programs that provide economic and quality of life benefits such as reduced energy bills, green space preservation, air quality improvements, reduced traffic congestion, improved transportation choices, and economic development and job creation through energy conservation and new energy technologies; and

Whereas, The United States Mayors Climate Protection Agreement urges federal, state and local governments to enact policies and programs to reduce global warming pollution, including efforts to reduce the United States’ dependence on fossil fuels and to accelerate the development of clean energy resources and fuel efficient technologies; and

Whereas, The June 13, 2005 Mayors Climate Protection Agreement, passed unanimously by the United States Conference of Mayors, formalized their commitment to initiatives that would significantly reduce global warming pollution through local actions, such as (1) setting emissions reduction targets for local operations, (2) adopting land-use policies that reduce sprawl and preserve open space, (3) promoting transportation options to reduce reliance on fossil fuels, (4) increasing the use of alternative fuels and renewable energy resources, (5) improving energy efficiency through building code improvements, conservation programs, and retrofitting public facilities with energy efficient equipment and lighting, (6) practicing and promoting green building technologies, (7) increasing fuel efficiency in municipal vehicles, (8) evaluating opportunities to increase efficiency of wastewater systems and treatment, (9) increasing recycling rates in the community, (10) maintaining healthy community forests and increasing shade cover, and (11) educating the community about reducing global warming pollution; and

Whereas, Practical resources are available to municipalities through the Cities for Climate Protection Project, part of the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives, in its role as implementer of the Mayors Climate Protection Agreement, to achieve significant reduction of domestic warming emissions, by providing technical consulting, training, and informational services to support locally designed programs; and to provide effective and cost-efficient ways to achieve local objectives; and

Whereas, As of February 2, 2006, 202 mayors representing over 41 million Americans have signed the United States Mayors Climate Protection Agreement to signify their commitment to taking local action to significantly reduce global warming pollution; now, therefore,

Be It Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

1. This House, recognizing that climate disruption is an urgent threat to the environment and the economic health of the State’s communities, respectfully urges New Jersey municipalities to support the initiatives of United States Mayors Climate Protection Agreement, by signing this Agreement, and by to taking local action to reduce global warming pollution.

2. Duly authenticated copies of this resolution, signed by the Speaker of the General Assembly and attested by the Clerk thereof, shall be transmitted to the President of the New Jersey State League of Municipalities, the President of the New Jersey Association of Counties, the governing bodies of each county in the State, the mayor of each municipality in the State, and all elected members of Congress from the State.

STATEMENT

This resolution urges New Jersey municipalities to join the 202 municipalities nationally, representing over 41 million Americans, who have already signed the United States Mayors Climate Protection Agreement, signifying their support of the June 13, 2005 Mayors Climate Protection Agreement, passed unanimously by the United States Conference of Mayors, by signing this Agreement and supporting municipal initiatives which can significantly reduce global warming pollution.