Policy Order O-17

WHEREAS: The City of Cambridge on May 24th, 1999, resolved to join the Cities for Climate Protection Campaign which commits the city to be an environmental leader; and

WHEREAS: In December 2002, the City of Cambridge adopted a Climate Protection Plan with the goal of reducing the emission of greenhouse gases (GHG) city-wide 20% below 1990 levels by 2010; and

WHEREAS: In April 2005, City of Cambridge joined the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI) with the goal of leading by example; and

WHEREAS: Through the efforts of city staff and others, the City of Cambridge has successfully implemented much of the Climate Protection Plan, yet total city-wide GHG emissions, as measured by the City's Climate Protection Action Committee increased 27% from 1990 - 2003; and

WHEREAS: Since GHGs causing global warming accumulate and persist in the atmosphere, sharp reductions in GHG emissions are required immediately for there to be any possibility of forestalling the dangers of climate change; and

WHEREAS: In March 2009, more than 2,500 climate experts from 80 countries, assembled for an emergency meeting in Copenhagen to prepare for the UN Climate Change Conference in December, declared that "the climate system is already moving beyond patterns of natural variability within which our society and economy have developed and thrived;" that "the worst-case IPCC scenario projections (or even worse) are being realized;" that "there is a significant risk that many of the trends will accelerate, leading to a risk of abrupt or irreversible climatic shifts;" and that "there is no excuse for inaction"; and

WHEREAS: The Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Agency on April 17, 2009 issued a proposed finding that says in part "the evidence points ineluctably to the conclusion that climate change is upon us as a result of greenhouse gas emissions, that climatic changes are already occurring that harm our health and welfare, and that the effects will only worsen over time in the absence of regulatory action. The effects of climate change on public health include sickness and death;" and

WHEREAS: As a preeminent center for scientific research with a well-educated population, Cambridge has the obligation to lead in responding to this critical situation; and

WHEREAS: This City Council recognizes that there is a climate emergency; now therefore be it

ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to direct the appropriate city departments to increase the City's responses to a scale proportionate to the emergency and consistent with the city's own Climate Protection goals for 2010 and beyond; and be it further

ORDERED: That this matter be referred to the Health and Environment Committee for a hearing.