Recognizing and Commending Governor Tom Wolf on the Establishment of the First Statewide Goal to Reduce Carbon Pollution.

WHEREAS, Carbon emissions contribute to climate change, which can have serious consequences for humans and the natural environment. According to the Federal Environmental Protection Agency, carbon emissions comprise more than 80 percent of the greenhouse gases emitted in the United States; and

WHEREAS, A recent study by the World Resources Institute shows that emissions reduction policies adopted by states, municipalities and businesses play a key role in the effort to curb pollution, and will reduce U.S. emissions by up to 28 percent by 2025; and

WHEREAS, On January 8, 2019, Governor Tom Wolf signed an Executive Order establishing the first statewide goal to reduce carbon pollution in Pennsylvania. The commonwealth will work to achieve a 26 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2025 and an 80 percent reduction by 2050, using 2005 levels as a baseline; and

WHEREAS, The Executive Order also establishes the GreenGov Council, which will encourage sustainable practices within state government to meet the goals put forth by the Executive Order. GreenGov will work with state agencies to reduce energy use in state government and improve the energy efficiency of state buildings and vehicles. Their goals are to reduce overall energy consumption 21 percent by 2025, as compared to 2017 levels; to replace 25 percent of the state passenger car fleet with battery electric and plug-in electric hybrid cars by 2025; and to procure renewable energy to offset at least 40 percent of the Commonwealth’s annual electricity use; and

WHEREAS, The City of Philadelphia has taken several actionable steps to address the disastrous impacts of climate change. Mayor Jim Kenney pledged his support for an 80 percent reduction in carbon pollution within the City of Philadelphia by 2050. He has charged the Office of Sustainability with executing the Municipal Energy Master Plan, the City’s goal to transition to 100 percent clean renewable energy for municipal buildings by 2030; and

WHEREAS, When announcing the statewide goal, Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf stated, “In the absence of leadership from the federal government, states and cities are stepping up and doing their part to reduce emissions…. I am proud to declare the Commonwealth’s intention to address climate change, the most critical environmental threat facing the world.” This new Executive Order is a critical step towards curbing climate change in Pennsylvania and the country as a whole, preserving the environment for future generations of Americans; now ,therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That we hereby recognize and commend Governor Tom Wolf on the establishment of the first statewide goal to reduce carbon pollution.

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