Blue Earth County Climate Change Resolution
A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
OF BLUE EARTH COUNTY, MINNESOTA,
ENDORSING CLIMATE PROTECTION
WHEREAS, environmental protection is an important component
of the Blue Earth County Strategic Plan and the County’s efforts to preserve
the environment and quality of life in the area are supported by its
citizens; and
WHEREAS, Blue Earth County has been a leader in environmental programs
such as energy alternatives including geothermal and waste-to-energy,
zoning to preserve open space and agricultural land, household hazardous
waste, recycling, well sealing, water planning, green building, energy
efficient building improvements, transportation, and trail development;
and
WHEREAS, local governments have a unique role to play in reducing greenhouse
gas emissions and preparing for the impacts of climate change through
their local jurisdiction over policy areas such as air quality, land
use planning, zoning, forest preservation, transportation, water conservation,
and wastewater and solid waste management; and
WHEREAS, emissions reduction programs can benefit communities through
reduced energy bills, greenspace preservation, air quality improvements,
reduced traffic congestion, improved transportation choices, and economic
development and job creation through energy conservation and new technologies;
and
WHEREAS, the Inter-Governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), 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 greenhouse gases; and
WHEREAS, climate change of the magnitude now predicted by some of
the scientific community will likely cause costly disruption of human
and natural systems throughout the world including: increased risk
of floods or droughts; sea-level rises that interact with coastal
storms to erode beaches, inundate land, affect the ability to grow
crops, and damage structures; more frequent and extreme heat waves;
and more frequent and greater concentrations of smog; and
WHEREAS, the United States of America, with less than five percent
of the world’s population, is responsible for producing approximately
25 percent of the world’s global warming pollutants; and
WHEREAS, on February 16, 2005, the Kyoto Protocol, an international
agreement to address climate disruption, went into effect in the 141
countries that have ratified it to date; 38 of those countries are
now legally required to reduce greenhouse gas emissions an average
5.2 percent below 1990 levels by 2012; and
WHEREAS, the emissions reduction target, had the United States chosen
to sign the Kyoto Protocol, would have been 7 percent below 1990 levels
by 2012; and
WHEREAS, the members of the National Association of Counties (NACo)
support immediate and long-range efforts to mitigate possible sources
of climate change and have agreed that NACo will provide leadership
in the education, discussion, evaluation, and decision making regarding
climate change affecting counties; and
WHEREAS, it is apparent that increasing greenhouse gases (GHGs) are
changing the climate in ways that could pose serious risks to Blue
Earth County’s health, environment, and economy; and
WHEREAS, Blue Earth County Commissioners desire to have Blue Earth
County join the nationwide efforts to address global warming.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BLUE EARTH COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
THAT Blue Earth County urges federal, state, and local governments
to enact policies and programs to meet or beat the target of reducing
global warming pollution levels to 7 percent below 1990 levels by
2012, including efforts to: reduce the United States’ dependence
on fossil fuels and accelerate the development of clean, economical
energy resources and fuel-efficient technologies such as conservation,
methane recovery for energy generation, waste to energy, wind and
solar energy, fuel cells, efficient motor vehicles, and biofuels;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Blue Earth County urges the United States
Congress to pass bipartisan greenhouse gas reduction legislation that
includes clear timetables and emissions limits;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Blue Earth County will strive to meet or
exceed Kyoto Protocol targets for reducing global warming pollution
by taking actions in our own operations and communities such as:
-
Inventory global warming emissions in County operations,
set reduction targets and create an action plan;
-
Continue to adopt
and enforce land use policies that reduce sprawl, preserve open
space, wetlands and agricultural land and create compact, walkable
and transit-friendly rural communities;
-
Promote multi-modal transportation
options such as bicycle trails, commuter trip reduction programs,
incentives for car pooling and public transit;
-
Increase the use
of clean, alternative energy by, for example, advocating for
the development of renewable energy resources, investigating recovery
of landfill methane for energy production, and supporting the
use of waste-to-energy technology;
-
Make energy
efficiency a priority by continuing to retrofit County facilities
with energy-efficient features, urging employees to conserve
energy, and purchase energy-efficient and water-conserving equipment
and appliances for County use;
-
Maintaining ENERGY STAR Award ratings
in the County Courthouse and Government Center, and continue working
toward ENERGY STAR ratings in all remaining County facilities
to distinguish Blue Earth County buildings as among the top 25%
energy efficient buildings in the nation;
-
Practice and promote sustainable
building practices using the U.S. Green Building Council’s
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program or
a similar system;
-
Increase the average fuel efficiency of County
fleet vehicles; develop an employee education program; promote
use of bio-diesel or other renewable fuels;
-
Continue to increase
waste diversion in County operations and throughout the community;
-
Maintain
healthy forests and promote tree planting to increase shading
and to absorb carbon dioxide;
-
Promote training and educational opportunities
for County staff and leadership who will be involved in “green” policy
making and program development;
-
Provide leadership
through public education, open dialogue, and partnerships
with citizens, other organizations and units of government.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Blue Earth County Commissioners urge
County Commissioners from the State of Minnesota and the nation, including
members of the Association of Minnesota Counties (AMC) and the National
Association of Counties (NACo) to join this effort.
Passed on this 17 day of June, 2008
Colleen Landkamer
Chairperson, Blue Earth County Board of Commissioners
Dennis McCoy
Blue Earth County Administrator
|
