THE FOLLOWING EMERGENCY RESOLUTION WAS ADOPTED AT THE NOVEMBER 2009 MEETING OF THE FCM NATIONAL BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Resolutions are placed in one of five categories.

ENV09.4.08
LEADERSHIP ON CLIMATE CHANGE ACTION

WHEREAS human activities have caused a dramatic increase in the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the earth´s atmosphere. Since the mid 1700s, the concentration of CO2 has risen from about 280 parts per million (ppm) to reach 387 ppm in 2009. This amount is likely the highest concentration in the atmosphere in the past 20 million years;

WHEREAS evidence presented in the Intergovernmental Panel of Climate Change (IPCC) November 2007 report indicates that “Warming of the climate system is unequivocal, as is now evident from observations of increases in global average air and ocean temperatures, widespread melting of snow and ice and rising global average sea level” and “Most of the observed increase in global average temperatures since the mid-20th century is very likely due to the observed increase in anthropogenic GHG concentrations. It is likely that there has been significant anthropogenic warming over the past 50 years averaged over each continent(except Antarctica).” ;

WHEREAS reducing greenhouse gases makes economic sense. New and improved infrastructure, renewable energy technologies, energy efficiency, energy conservation, waste reduction, building retrofits, transit, walking, cycling, water conservation, better fleet management, more effective wastewater treatment and distribution, etc., can reduce short-term and/or long-term municipal operating costs and help maintain community services, while having a positive impact on the environment ;

WHEREAS the impacts of climate change as well as the responsibility for mitigation will fall primarily on municipalities;

WHEREAS municipalities are leaders among governments in Canada when it comes to making climate change a priority;

WHEREAS in December, national governments from around the world will meet in Copenhagen, Denmark to negotiate terms and conditions of a new global climate agreement;

WHEREAS local community based emission reductions can be lower cost compared to many other approaches, while also providing important social, economic, and environmental benefits to citizens and businesses;

WHEREAS mayors and municipal leaders responsible for the well-being of communities across Canada have urged federal and provincial/territorial governments to make climate protection a priority;

WHEREAS the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) continues to support the 2005 World Mayors and Municipal Leaders Declaration on Climate Change committing municipal governments, each according to their individual circumstances and abilities, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 30 per cent from 1990 levels by 2020 and by 80 percent by 2050;

WHEREAS the FCM has climate change as a strategic priority and has numerous programs and committees such as the Green Municipal Funds and the Partners for Climate Protection Program, that support municipal leadership on climate change action;

WHEREAS Minister Baird re-affirmed the Government of Canada´s position in the House of Commons on November 18, 2009 when he said, “We need to have real and meaningful action. We need to have all the big players on board. Canada is committed to doing our part to make a deal happen in Copenhagen.”

BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Federation of Canadian Municipalities support the Government of Canada´s commitment to achieve a deal with real and meaningful action in Copenhagen.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Federation of Canadian Municipalities urge the federal government to recognize the important role that municipalities play in providing practical local solutions for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Federation of Canadian Municipalities urge the federal government to partner with and support municipalities in undertaking emission reduction projects.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Federation of Canadian Municipalities urge the Government of Canada to seek the re-inclusion of references to the role of and support for local government climate change action in the latest negotiating text of the Conference of the Parties, leading up to the Copenhagen meetings in December 2009.

City of London, Ontario
Regional Municipality of Halton

Category “A”