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WHEREAS, the City Council of Pittsburgh exists to enhance the health, safety, and quality of life for all residents as determined by law and community interests; and
WHEREAS, the global atmospheric concentration of C02 has now surpassed 400 parts per million, the highest level in the last 800,000 years; and
WHEREAS, increases in the CO2 concentration in the past sixty years reveal changes that would normally take thousands of years are now happening within decades; and
WHEREAS, climate change poses a serious threat to the City of Pittsburgh and residents in terms of the economy, public health, and the environment; and
WHEREAS, as a result of climate change, the Mid-Atlantic region is experiencing warming temperatures and a large increase in the amount of rainfall measured during heavy precipitation events; and
WHEREAS, the 2014 National Climate Assessment found that continued warming of the atmosphere will cause the area to experience an increase in heat waves, air pollution, and flooding, resulting in threats to the city’s infrastructure and private property as well as causing harm to agriculture; and
WHEREAS, the disruption of the region’s environmental, social, and economic systems due to climate change will increase the vulnerability of Pittsburgh’s residents;
WHEREAS, all levels of government have the responsibility to act swiftly and meaningfully on the issue of climate change; and
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NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT, the City Council of Pittsburgh strongly urges U.S. Congress to take prompt and effective measures to rapidly address climate change by promoting and encouraging a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuels and explore a Carbon Fee and Dividend as sound, effective policy.