Urging Governor Edward G. Rendell and the Pennsylvania General Assembly to develop a state-wide global warming strategy guided by the emissions reduction goals of PennFuture's "Cool Pennsylvania Campaign."

WHEREAS

, Global warming is real and getting worse; and

WHEREAS,

Pennsylvania has the third largest heat trapping emissions footprint in the United States behind only California and Texas; and

WHEREAS,

If bold action is not taken global warming will devastate Pennsylvania’s environment and economy by harming the state's ski industry and cold water fisheries, spreading more diseases formerly found only in hotter climates, increasing the number of heat waves, lowering crop yields, hastening deforestation, and increasing the likelihood of floods; and

WHEREAS,

Philadelphia’s low and moderate income residents suffer disproportionately from cancer, asthma and other respiratory ailments caused by heat trapping emissions; and

WHEREAS,

Pennsylvania’s carbon-free wind and solar industries have already created more than 3,000 jobs; and

WHEREAS,

Pennsylvania could create more than 83,000 jobs through a renewable energy economy; and

WHEREAS,

CoolPennsylvania: The Campaign to Stop Global Warming is an effort led by PennFuture to reduce Pennsylvania’s heat-trapping emissions; and

WHEREAS,

The campaign suggests cutting all heat-trapping gas emissions by 25 percent in 2025, and 80 percent by 2050, and is based on sound science; and

WHEREAS,

Over 300 businesses, faith communities, public officials, sporting groups, educational authorities, and public policy organizations have joined CoolPennsylvania; now therefore be it,

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA,

That we hereby urge Governor Edward G. Rendell and the Pennsylvania General Assembly to take strong action toward implementing the goals of PennFuture’s “CoolPennsylvania Campaign.”

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED

, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution shall be transmitted to Governor Rendell and the Pennsylvania General Assembly.

End