Fiscal Note
No fiscal impact.
Title
Calling for the federal government to pass a Green New Deal.
Body
WHEREAS, an October 2018 United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report says we have only until 2030, to limit devastating global warming and avoid a climate change catastrophe; and,
WHEREAS, the October 2018 IPCC report also makes clear that every bit of warming matters, so every fraction of a degree less of warming will save lives and pay dividends across the world’s economies; and,
WHEREAS, Madison is already experiencing serious, costly, and increasing impacts from climate change, including more intense storms, and unprecedented flooding; and,
WHEREAS, an inadequate response to climate change will increase economic and environmental disruptions. These include, but are not limited to: severe storms, longer and hotter heat waves, growing invasive species and insect problems, accelerated species extinction rates, rising sea levels, a dramatic increase in refugees from climate impacted lands, extreme flooding, decreased lake quality as seen by increasing algae population, and decreasing snowfall; and,
WHEREAS, the most negative impacts of climate change are generally falling on frontline communities. Frontline communities that are underrepresented, such as lower-income communities or communities of color, are bearing the initial burden of climate change, but are least equipped to adapt to these impacts; and,
WHEREAS, at least 65 U.S. Representatives including Mark Pocan endorsed a resolution to establish a Select Committee for a Green New Deal; and,
WHEREAS, local Green New Deal legislation would create a detailed mobilization plan to eliminate greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, invest in communities on the frontlines of poverty and pollution, and guarantee a good job to anyone ready to make this happen,
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that City of Madison Common Council calls on the U.S. Government to pass a Green New Deal that meets the following goals by 2030:
• Dramatically expand existing renewable power sources and deploy new production capacity with the goal of meeting 100% of city power demand through renewable sources;
• Buillding a local, energy-efficient, “smart” grid;
• Upgrading every residential and industrial building for state-of-the-art energy efficiency, comfort and safety;
• Eliminating greenhouse gas emissions from, repairing and improving transportation and
• Other infrastructure, and upgrading water infrastructure to ensure universal access to clean water;
• Funding massive investment in the drawdown of greenhouse gases;
• Eliminating salt and phosphorus runoff to protect the quality of Madison’s lakes
• Noting that the scope presents a historic opportunity to virtually eliminate poverty in the United States and to make prosperity, wealth and economic security available to everyone participating in the transformation, the Green New Deal should aim to:
o Provide all members of our society, across all regions and all communities, the opportunity, training and education to be a full and equal participant in the transition, including through a job guarantee program to assure a living wage job to every person who wants one;
o Require strong enforcement of labor, workplace safety, and wage standards that recognize the rights of workers to organize and unionize free of coercion, intimidation, and harassment, and creation of meaningful, quality, career employment;
o Ensure a ‘just transition’ for all workers, low-income communities, communities of color, indigenous communities, rural and urban communities and the front-line communities most affected by climate change, pollution and other environmental harm including by ensuring that local implementation of the transition is led from the community level and by prioritizing solutions that end the harms faced by front-line communities from climate change and environmental pollution.