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WHEREAS, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has found that "warming of the climate system is unequivocal," and that "most of the observed increase in global average temperatures since the mid-20th century is very likely due to the observed increase in greenhouse gas concentrations"; and
WHEREAS, the impacts of climate change will most adversely affect low-income communities around the world that are least able to cope with the effects of a hotter and drier climate and
WHEREAS, the Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act makes America more energy independent creating new jobs with safer, cleaner energy sources that are made in America and work for America; and
WHEREAS, wind turbines, solar technologies, geothermal and biomass projects to power our country's infrastructure, along with energy efficiency initiatives, broadband investments and mass transportation systems; have the potential to revitalize our existing manufacturing capacity, and
WHEREAS, if the United States were to invest wisely in clean energy, innovation and efficiency Millions of jobs could be created including 11,600 in Southwest Pennsylvania according to the "Southwestern Pennsylvania Green Jobs Analysis and Acton Plan", a study commissioned by the Green Building Alliance and Gtech (August 2009); and
WHEREAS, Pennsylvania possesses the resources to lead the country's transition to a low-carbon economy and can experience greater employment for residents of Pittsburgh in a low-carbon economy, according to "The Economic Benefits of Investing in Clean Energy", Political Economy Research Institute-University of Massachusetts, Amherst & Center for American Progress, June 2009.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED,
1. That the Council of the City of Pittsburgh recognizes the urgency of stabilizing the climate and believes that the City of Pittsburgh has a part to play in this endeavor.
2. That the Council of City of Pittsburgh encourages the U.S. Senate, and Pennsylvania's Senators Arlen Specter and Robert Casey in particular, to pass the Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act to protect the climate and advance clean energy solutions before the next round of international climate negotiations in Copenhagen in December 2009. This Act should meet the following standards in order to maximize the environmental and economic benefits to residents of the City of Pittsburgh:
(a) Ensure that global warming emissions reductions remain at the science-based targets of 20% by 2020 and 83% by 2050.
(b) Ensure that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) retains the authority to regulate pollution from existing power plants and that new coal plants must meet standards for global warming pollution as set forth in the Clean Air Act and further clarified in Massachusetts vs. EPA in 2007 before the Supreme Court of the United States of America.
(c) Ensure that a renewable electricity standard of 20% by 2020 is included.
(d) Ensure protection of American jobs by including border adjustment mechanisms that level the carbon playing field in industries that produce import-sensitive products within the framework of an international treaty.
(e) Ensure that the creation and retention of millions of new and existing, family-sustaining green jobs, particularly in manufacturing and construction are a direct goal of Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act.