Fiscal Note
There is no anticipated cost to the City.
Title
Resilient Communities for America Agreement
Body
Whereas the City of Madison adopted "The Madison Sustainability Plan: Fostering Environmental, Economic and Social Resilience" in May of 2012, and;
Whereas the City of Madison is facing emerging threats to our safety and economic prosperity because of the effects of climate change including a record number of extreme weather events such as heat waves, droughts, severe rain events that cause significant flooding, and;
Whereas the cost to the United States because of these events is estimated at $188 billion for the years 2011-2012, and;
Whereas the City of Madison along with other communities in the country must become more "resilient" by taking steps to limit the impacts of these events and better plan for them, and;
Whereas the Resilient Communities for America Agreement is a national campaign sponsored by ICLEI Local Governments for Sustainability, National League of Cities, WWF and the USGBC that will mobilize thousands of local elected officials who pledge to create more resilient cities, towns, and counties, and;
Whereas the Resilient Communities campaign will launch in June 2013 and a group of leading local elected officials will announce the campaign as "Inaugural Signatories" of the agreement letter on the national stage and showcase their leadership on climate action, renewable energy, and economic prosperity, and;
Whereas the City of Madison agrees to commit to create a more resilient city based on existing local plans or goals, and/or new, self-defined goals and commits to sharing their solutions, progress, and success stories with other local governments
Whereas the City of Madison will in turn receive free resource, such as software and technical guidance, to achieve their self-defined resilience goals, and;
Whereas the agreement reads as follows:
We, the mayors and local leaders of America, will lead the creation of more resilient cities, towns, and counties, built to overcome our nation's CLIMATE, ENERGY, and ECONOMIC challenges.
A CALL TO ACTION
Communities across the country are on the front lines of three related challenges: record-breaking extreme weather, reliance on costly foreign energy, and ongoing economic uncertainty. As the pace of change quickens, city and county governments must work to make communities more "resilient"- able to bounce back from disruptions in a sustainable way and maintain a good quality of life for all. As local elected officials:
1. We urge state and federal leaders to support our local resilience initiatives and to take meaningful steps to build resilience and security throughout the nation.
2. We commit to building community resilience through our own local actions, such as the paths to resilience described below.
3. We commit to sharing our annual progress, solutions, and success stories with other local governments through the Resilient Communities for America online platform.
PATHS TO RESILIENCE
CLIMATE PREPAREDNESS
. Evaluating local vulnerabilities to extreme weather and a changing climate, from heat waves and air pollution to droughts and floods.
. Adopting and implementing preparedness policies that protect vulnerable populations and natural resources from extreme weather and other climate impacts.
. Reducing the community's carbon footprint to help reverse climate change and avoid the costs of adapting to more severe climate impacts.
ENERGY SECURITY
. Transitioning to a renewable energy future to achieve greater energy independence, protect communities from price spikes, and ensure more reliable power during heat waves and other disruptions.
. Implementing energy efficiency programs that help residents, businesses, and municipal government save money and energy, lower carbon emissions, and reduce demand on the grid during severe weather events.
INFRASTRUCTURE RENEWAL
. Investing in upgrades to community facilities to safely serve the needs of changing communities decades into the future.
. Creating new models to finance improvements and manage risks to community assets through engagement with the private sector.
. Harnessing innovations in information technology and green infrastructure to optimize performance and reduce costs through more efficient operation.
ECONOMIC PROSPERITY
. Retaining and attracting investment by safeguarding businesses from extreme weather and ensuring reliable access to energy, water, and other key resources.
. Supporting the private sector in creating more diversified local economies that are more resilient to economic downturn, through job creation in sectors such as clean energy, advanced manufacturing, and local agriculture.
Now therefore be it resolved that the Common Council hereby authorizes the Mayor to become an
Inaugural Signatory of the Resilient Communities for America Agreement and calls upon city
agencies and departments to foster adaption and resilience planning that sets goals and strategies to mitigate the impacts of climate change.