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TO: Mayor Richard C. Irvin
FROM: Alex Minnella, Planner
DATE: February 8, 2019
SUBJECT:
A Resolution of the City of Aurora Pledging to the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy to Reduce Emissions and Adapt to Climate Change in a Consistent and Complimentary Manner to National Level Climate Protection Efforts. (19-0102 / KDWK-18.015-PZ/S - AM - Ward)
PURPOSE:
Staff is requesting to authorize the acceptance of the Global Covenant of Mayors pledge to achieve an emissions reduction target.
The details of the proposal include the collaboration on climate protection with the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy (aka Compact of Mayors), a Mayor-to-Mayor network of US Mayors.
BACKGROUND:
In June 2005, Aurora endorsed and signed the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement making a commitment that as a City, it would strive to meet or beat the United Nations Kyoto Protocol greenhouse gas emission reduction targets.
The City of Aurora is also a case study municipality in the ‘Go To 2040’ Regional Energy Profile and Regional Greenhouse Gas Inventory commissioned by the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP).
This resolution supports the common goal of the City of Aurora and other municipalities across the globe of reducing greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) and adapt to climate change. The City of Aurora currently holds membership in many environmentally minded organizations including U.S. Conference of Mayors, Chicago Area Clean Cities, Clean Air Counts, Cool Cities, Cool DuPage, U.S. Green Buildings Council, Illinois Recycling Organization, and Tree City USA.
The Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy (GCoM) is a global coalition of mayors, city officials, and local governments committing to reduce local GHG, enhance resilience to climate change and track their progress publicly. It is a coalition endorsed by the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus to further take climate actions.
The GCoM formally brings together the European Union’s Covenant of Mayors and the Compact of Mayors - the world’s two primary initiatives of cities and local governments - to advance city-level transition to a low emission and climate resilient economy, and to demonstrate the global impact of local action.
It was formed by: UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, Michael R. Bloomberg, U.N. Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Cities and Climate Change, ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability (ICLEI), C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group (C40), United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG), United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat).
By joining the effort, the City will pledge to reduce CO2 emissions by at least 40% by 2030 and to increase their resilience to the impacts of climate change.
The City will have up to three years to meet a series of requirements and fully comply, culminating in the creation of a full climate action and adaptation plan, and it will be recognized as each step is met.
The steps to be undertaken are described as follow:
- Register commitment
- Take Inventory (within one year)
- Assess the current impacts of climate change in Aurora by building and completing a
Community-wide GHG inventory
- Identify climate hazards
- Report
- Create reduction targets (within two years)
- Update GHG inventory
- Set a target to reduce GHG emissions
- Conduct a climate change vulnerability assessment
- Report
- Establish an action plan (within three years)
More information on the Global Compact of Mayors can be found on <https://www.globalcovenantofmayors.org/>
DISCUSSION:
Staff has reviewed the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy requirements and believes the benefits of partnering with the international alliance will foster a sustainability and global progress in living standards. There is no cost to joining the GCoM.
IMPACT STATEMENT:
Staff would anticipate that this project will increase the City’s overall quality of life, by pursuing enhanced environmental standards and implementing sustainability practices.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
Staff would recommend APPROVAL of the Resolution of the City of Aurora Pledging to the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy to Reduce Emissions and Adapt to Climate Change in a Consistent and Complimentary Manner to National Level Climate Protection Efforts.
ATTACHMENTS:
Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy Technical FAQ
The Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy Reporting Guidelines
Global Covenant of Mayors Reporting Framework
Global Covenant of Mayors Letter of Commitment
Legistar Number: 19-0102
cc: Alderman Saville, Chairman
Alderman Jenkins
Alderman Franco
Alderman Donnell, Alternate
Edward T. Sieben, Zoning & Planning Director
John P. Curley, Chief Development Services Officer
CITY OF AURORA, ILLINOIS
RESOLUTION NO. _________
DATE OF PASSAGE ________________
title
A Resolution of the City of Aurora Pledging to the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy to Reduce Emissions and Adapt to Climate Change in a Consistent and Complimentary Manner to National Level Climate Protection Efforts.
body
WHEREAS, the City of Aurora has a population of more than 25,000 persons and is, therefore, a home rule unit under subsection (a) of Section 6 of Article VII of the Illinois Constitution of 1970; and
WHEREAS, subject to said Section, a home rule unit may exercise any power and perform any function pertaining to its government and affairs for the protection of the public health, safety, morals, and welfare; and
WHEREAS, the City of Aurora desires to protect and enhance the quality of life for all those who live, work, learn and play in our community; and
WHEREAS, the City of Aurora has adopted a Sustainability Plan as an element of its Comprehensive Plan to enhance the quality of life for present and future generations of Aurorans through sustainable practices on August 11, 2009 with resolution R2009-314; and
WHEREAS, the City of Aurora has accepted the Cool DuPage Initiative and Goals as a Charter Community in Partnership with DuPage County on October 23, 2018 with resolution R2018-283;
WHEREAS, on February 14, 2019, the Planning and Development Committee of the Aurora City Council reviewed said Planning and Economic Development Project and the before mentioned recommendations and recommended APPROVAL of said petition; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Aurora, Illinois, Hereby accepts and approves to pledge to the Global Covenant of Mayors, and the Mayor be authorized to execute the Pledge on behalf of the City; and
BE FURTHER RESOLVED that the City of Aurora desires to be listed as an active partner on the Global Covenant of Mayors website and in any applicable publications and social media supporting the Global Covenant of Mayors.