Draft Resolution: Committing to Regional Climate Mitigation and Resiliency Goals

October 20, 2020

RESOLUTION COMMITTING TO REGIONAL CLIMATE MITIGATION AND RESILIENCY GOALS

WHEREAS, in 2019, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change updated its guidance to recognize that the world is already experiencing the impacts of global warming and that to avoid the most severe climate impacts, greenhouse gas emissions must be reduced by at least 45 percent from 2010 levels by 2030 and to carbon neutrality by 2050; and 

 

WHEREAS, metropolitan Washington, to include Prince William County, is already experiencing the impacts of a changing climate, including increases in temperature, a rise in extreme weather events, and sea-level rise; and 

 

WHEREAS, in its Region Forward Vision, Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG) – of which Prince William County is a member jurisdiction includes a sustainability goal that calls for a significant decrease in greenhouse gas emissions, with substantial reductions from the built environment and transportation sector; and 

 

WHEREAS, the COG Board of Directors in Resolution R60-08 adopted the National Capital Region Climate Change Report and its recommendations in 2008, including goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 10 percent below “business as usual” by 2012, 20 percent below the region’s 2005 baseline by 2020, and 80 percent below the 2005 baseline by 2050; and 

 

WHEREAS, the COG Board of Directors in Resolution R18-09 established the Climate, Energy and Environment Policy Committee (CEEPC) in 2009 to collaboratively work toward the report’s goals; and 

 

WHEREAS, CEEPC has reviewed the updated IPCC guidance and GCoM protocols and recommended COG establish an interim 2030 climate mitigation goal of 50 percent greenhouse gas reduction below 2005 levels and climate resilience goals of becoming a Climate Ready Region by 2030 and fully Resilient Region by 2050; and 

 

WHEREAS, CEEPC recognizes that educating the public about the risks from climate change and the value of emission reduction and resiliency efforts is a critical action in addition to direct actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase resiliency; and 

 

WHEREAS, on October 15th 2020, the COG Board of Directors in Resolution R45-2020 approved a new greenhouse gas emissions reduction goal for the region of a 50 percent reduction in GHG emissions below baseline levels—or 2005 emission levels—by 2030; and

 

WHEREAS, the Prince William County Comprehensive Plan includes an Environment Plan which is designed “to ensure that in developing the County, the natural beauty is preserved, water quality is protected, property values and quality of life are enhanced, and ecological diversity is preserved;” 

 

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Prince William Board of County Supervisors endorses the COG interim climate mitigation goal of 50 percent greenhouse gas emission reductions below 2005 levels by 2030; and

 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Prince William Board of County Supervisors endorses the COG climate resilience goals of becoming a Climate Ready Region and making significant progress towards being a Climate Resilient Region by 2030; and

 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Prince William Board of County Supervisors directs staff to begin development of a Comprehensive Plan Amendment to the Environment Plan to include goals of 100% of Prince William County’s electricity to be from renewable sources by 2035, for Prince William County Government operations to achieve 100% renewable electricity by 2030, and for Prince William County to be 100% carbon neutral by 2050; and

 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Prince William Board of County Supervisors directs staff to develop recommendations for policy proposals and enhancements to the Community Energy Master Plan (CEMP) to achieve the goals of the above-stated Comprehensive Plan Amendment; and

 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Prince William Board of County Supervisors reinforces the need to incorporate equity principles and environmental justice into the CEMP as well as the entire Environment Chapter of the Comprehensive Plan.