Vote Language:That Town Meeting hereby adopts the following resolution:
WHEREAS, on April 22, 2016, in the Paris Agreement, world leaders from 174 countries and the European Union agreed to keep warming well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels and to pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5°C; and
WHEREAS, on October 8, 2018, the United Nations International Panel on Climate Change (“IPCC”) projected that limiting warming to the 1.5°C target this century will require an unprecedented transformation of every sector of the global economy over the next 12 years, and ongoing research suggests even greater urgency; and
WHEREAS, on November 23, 2018, the United States Fourth National Climate Assessment (“NCA4”) reported the massive threat that climate change poses to the American economy, our environment and climate stability, and underscores the need for immediate climate emergency action at all levels of government; and
WHEREAS, in August, 2008, the Massachusetts Global Warming Solutions Act (GWSA) established 1990 as the statewide baseline for measuring greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, with a target of reducing emissions from all sectors of the economy by 25% in 2020 and at least 80% in 2050; and
WHEREAS, per 192nd MA General Court (1-28-2021) S.9 SEC.10 - sec.4(h) “The interim 2030 statewide greenhouse gas emissions limit shall be at least 50 percent below the 1990 level, and the interim 2040 statewide greenhouse gas emissions limit shall be at least 75 percent below the 1990 level.” and
WHEREAS, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the Town of Arlington are vulnerable to the effects of climate disruption and have already been subjected to devastating disasters caused by global warming, including increasingly severe Nor’easters, blizzards, droughts, heatwaves, and coastal and inland flooding; and
WHEREAS, the economic costs of weather and climate disasters are immense, as indicated by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) report that in 2020 (as of October 7) there have been 16 U.S. weather/climate disasters with losses exceeding $1 billion each (tied with 2011 and 2017 for the highest number ever), including fires, hurricanes, droughts, and heatwaves; and
WHEREAS, the marginalized populations in Arlington, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and worldwide, including people of color, immigrants, indigenous communities, low-income individuals, homeless persons, and people with disabilities, are already disproportionately affected by climate change, and will continue to bear an excess burden as temperatures increase; and
WHEREAS, the Town of Arlington acknowledges the need for climate action through the Select Board’s establishment of Envision Arlington (formerly Vision 2020), the Town’s greenhouse gas inventory, its 2018 commitment to becoming carbon neutral by 2050 through the establishment of the Clean Energy Future Committee, and the drafting of the Net-Zero Planning Roadmap; and
WHEREAS, the National and state governments have acted too slowly to address the climate emergency, so Arlington and other Massachusetts communities are being called to step forward and take bold action now, just as our town has done in history.
THEREFORE, THE ARLINGTON TOWN MEETING HEREBY RESOLVES AS FOLLOWS:
1. Declares Emergency. Declares a climate emergency and calls for an immediate urgent mobilization to protect the climate, reducing the pace of warming and slowing down ecological collapse to the maximum extent possible.
2. Tells the Truth. Speaks plainly in high-profile public communications about the climate crisis; and commits to providing a periodic report of our community’s complete annual greenhouse gas emissions, using a reputable accounting protocol.
3. Acts Now. Initiates immediate action wherever possible, in matters within Town authority. Agrees (a) to explicitly consider climate impact in major town decisions to the maximum extent permitted by law, reliably supporting actions that increase climate resiliency while reducing pollution and opposing actions that increase greenhouse gas emissions; and (b) to appoint a community liaison with the responsibility of actively working with the media, annual carbon reporting, and constituent communication, to support rapid greenhouse gas reductions.
4. Promotes Climate Action in Matters Beyond Town Authority. All Town of Arlington input, influence, and lobbying with state and federal governments and with regional entities responsible for energy and utilities supports rapid greenhouse gas reductions.
5. Promotes Climate Justice. Preserves and protects the rights, well-being, autonomy, and power of people at greatest risk, including people of color, immigrants, climate refugees, indigenous communities, low-income individuals, the very young and very old, homeless persons, and people with disabilities.
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