Title:
Title
Declaration of a Climate Emergency and Identification of the City’s Mobilization Efforts
End
FileID
File ID: 2019-01768
Location
Location: Citywide
Recommendation:
Recommendation
Adopt a Resolution declaring a climate emergency and identifying the City’s efforts to mobilize and contribute towards a safe climate.
Contact: Tom Pace, Planning Director, (916) 808-2691; Greg Sandlund, Principal Planner, (916) 808-8931, Community Development Department,
Body
Presenter None
Attachments:
1-Description/Analysis
2-Resolution
Description/Analysis
Issue Detail: Climate Week occurred in 2019 from September 23 to September 29. The keystone event occurred at Climate Week NYC, with a number of other events happening across the nation to draw attention to the growing climate emergency. In Sacramento, youth are leading a Climate Strike, accompanied by a number of demonstrations and meetings throughout the community. The recommended resolution declares a climate emergency and calls for City action to chart a path towards carbon neutrality by 2045. This horizon year is consistent with the target year for the Mayor’s Commission on Climate Change, which is tasked with recommending a path to achieve net zero carbon emissions, or “Carbon Zero,” by 2045.
A number of other cities have declared climate emergencies, including the cities of Davis, Richmond, Oakland, Berkeley, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and more. Climate emergency declarations are being supported by the Climate Mobilization Movement, a global network of people committed to engaging the public and government agencies to foster responses to climate change and spur action.
Policy Considerations: The recommendation in this report is consistent with adopted Council goals in the General Plan to reduce GHG emissions and foster a sustainable and livable city.
Economic Impacts: Fighting climate change will require significant resources from both the private and public sectors. For example, measures such as moving vehicle fleets from fossil fuels to electric vehicles will require financial investments and could also prove beneficial in supporting the burgeoning “green economy.”
Environmental Considerations:
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA): The recommendation in this report consists of an administrative activity such as general policy making and is not a project under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), Guidelines section 15378(b)(2), and, in any event, consists of “actions taken…to assure the maintenance, restoration, enhancement, or protection of the environment,” CEQA Guidelines section 15308.
Sustainability: Reducing the local contribution to climate change and mitigating climate change impacts are critical for the ongoing health and vitality of Sacramento. The recommended resolution summarizes City actions to date that support climate sustainability.
Commission/Committee Action: None
Rationale for Recommendation: Declaring a climate emergency elevates local urgency and awareness. By adopting this Resolution, City Council is sending a clear commitment to the community. Yet the resolution also connects the declaration to related City efforts and calls for integration of City projects to provide a clear path towards carbon neutrality.
Financial Considerations: The recommendation has no immediate fiscal impact, but future implementation is anticipated to require new sources of funding. As projects are identified, staff will return to City Council for approval. The recommendation calls for staff to analyze resources needed to attain carbon neutrality by 2045 and to provide recommendations.
Local Business Enterprise (LBE): Not applicable.