* WARNING: THIS IS AN UNOFFICIAL, INTRODUCTORY COPY OF THE BILL.
THE OFFICIAL COPY CONSIDERED BY THE CITY COUNCIL IS THE FIRST READER COPY.
INTRODUCTORY*
CITY OF BALTIMORE
COUNCIL BILL R
(Resolution)
Introduced by: Councilmember Kraft
A RESOLUTION ENTITLED
A COUNCIL RESOLUTION concerning
Title
In Support of State Legislation - Senate Bill 409/House Bill 890 - Global Warming Solutions - Reduction In Greenhouse Gas Emissions
FOR the purpose of supporting this legislation that would establish limits on emissions of greenhouse gases, require the Department of the Environment to determine the statewide greenhouse gas emissions level from 1990 and establish a statewide greenhouse gas emissions limit based on that level, require the Department to prepare a plan that identifies and recommends specified measures after consulting with other State agencies, establish the Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Fund and create the Office of Climate Change within the Department and specifying its duties; urging the Honorable Chair and Members of the Senate Education Health and Environmental Affairs Committee, the Honorable Chair and Members of the House Economic Matters and Environmental Matters Committee, and the Honorable Chair and Members of the Baltimore City Delegation to the 2007 Maryland General Assembly to support passage of the legislation; and petitioning the Governor to sign the measure into law.
Body
Recitals
Global warming pollution threatens to endanger the public health and welfare of the people of Maryland. The most recent report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change found that human activity is the primary cause of recent planetary warming and that if left unchecked, it could lead to a 10-degree temperature increase by the year 2100. This hotter climate will lead to more heat waves, more violent hurricanes and increase instances of extreme weather conditions.
With 3,100 miles of tidal shoreline, Maryland is vulnerable to the threat of global warming and is susceptible to rising sea levels and flooding. Maryland is expected to suffer up to 3 feet of sea level rise, leading to coastal property destruction, loss of wetlands and other endangered habitats, flooding of low-lying islands, more severe surge tides, and major coastal erosion.
The State has technology and ingenuity to reduce the threat of global warming through its own actions and by inspiring other state and federal action. Many measures that reduce our impact on the climate bring co-benefits of reducing other pollutants, encouraging conservation, and saving consumers money. The Global Warming Solutions Act will reduce Maryland's impact on the global climate, returning emissions to 1990 levels by 2020, and set a course for Maryland to do its part in the fight against global warming.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF BALTIMORE, That this Body supports this legislation that would establish limits on emissions of greenhouse gases, require the Department of the Environment to determine the statewide greenhouse gas emissions level from 1990 and establish a statewide greenhouse gas emissions limit based on that level, require the Department to prepare a plan that identifies and recommends specified measures after consulting with other State agencies, establish the Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Fund and create the Office of Climate Change within the Department and specifying its duties; urges the Honorable Chair and Members of the Senate Education Health and Environmental Affairs Committee, the Honorable Chair and Members of the House Economic Matters and Environmental Matters Committee, and the Honorable Chair and Members of the Baltimore City Delegation to the 2007 Maryland General Assembly to support passage of the legislation; and petitioning the Governor to sign the measure into law.
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Honorable Chairs of the Senate Education Health and Environmental Affairs Committee and House Economic Matters and Environmental Matters Committee are respectfully requested to include this resolution as part of the Committee record of support for legislative proposals to establish limits on emissions of greenhouse gases.
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be sent to the Governor, the Mayor, the Honorable Chair and Members of the Senate Education Health and Environmental Affairs Committee, the Honorable Chair and Members of the House Economic Matters and Environmental Matters Committee, and the Honorable Chair and Members of the Baltimore City Delegation to the 2007 Maryland General Assembly, the Executive Director of the Mayor's Office of State Relations, and the Mayor's Legislative Liaison to the City Council.
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