41 RESOLUTION NO. _____ _
2
3 A Resolution endorsing the Mayors' Climate Action Pledge, affirming support
4 for the Southeast Florida Regional Climate Change Compact, agreeing to
5 consider implementing the Regional Climate Action Plan in whole or in part as
6 appropriate for each municipality, and urging all mayors of Miami-Dade
7 County to support the Mayors' Climate Action Pledge.
8
9 WHEREAS, Florida is considered one of the most vulnerable areas of the country to the
10 consequences of global climate change with Southeast Florida being at the frontline to
11 experience the impacts of a changing climate, especially sea level rise; and,
12
13 WHEREAS, in recognition of the need for immediate, coordinated and visionary action to
14 address the impacts of a changing climate and provide for economic and environmental resilience in
15 Southeast Florida, in 2010 the counties of Palm Beach, Broward, Miami-Dade and Monroe (Compact
16 Partners) entered into the Southeast Florida Regional Climate Change Compact (Compact); and
17
18 WHEREAS, further recognizing the role of State water managers and local governments in
19 this regional initiative, the South Florida Water Management District and one municipal
20 representative from each participating county were invited to participate in this early phase; and
21
22 WHEREAS, in accordance with the Compact commitment and through a two year
23 collaborative process involving nearly 100 subject matter experts representing public and private
24 sectors, universities, and not-for-profit organizations, the Compact Partners developed the Regional
25 Climate Action Plan (RCAP); and
26
27 WHEREAS, the RCAP offers recommendations that provide the common integrated
28 framework for a stronger and more resilient Southeast Florida, including:
29
30 • Providing the common framework for Sustainable Communities and Transportation Plar-ming
31 to be aligned across the region;
32 • Recognizing the need to protect and address vulnerable Water Supply;
33 • Management and infrastructure and preserve fragile Natural Systems and Agricultural
34 resources;
35 • Providing steps to move towards resilience and reducing emissions through exploring
36 alternatives and decreasing the use of Energy and Fuel;
37 • Building upon strength as effective emergency responders and integrating climate change
38 hazards in Risk Reduction and Emergency Management Planning;
39 • Providing for effective Public Outreach initiatives to educate the public on the consequences
40 of climate change and providing guidance for developing and influencing Public Policies
41 related to climate change; and
42
43 WHEREAS, recognizing that there are more than 100 municipalities within the region that
44 will play an important role in the implementation of the RCAP, the Compact Partners included
45 municipalities in the development of the RCAP; and
46
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WHEREAS, municipalities individually have been working to achieve sustainabiIity, and the
RCAP presents an opportunity to align these individual local efforts with the regional framework and
vision; and
WHEREAS, municipalities play a key role in the annual Regional Climate Leadership
Summits, participated in RCAP Working Groups and now is the time to solidify local government
support to advance the RCAP; and
WHEREAS, the RCAP now serves as the foundation document of Climate Resilience ..
Planning as part of the seven county Prosperity Plan in support for economic development; and
WHEREAS, the RCAP does not provide a mandate but rather serves as a living guidance
document with options that each regional and local government may align to their own plans and
adopt and utilize based on their interests and vision for the future; and
WHEREAS, the willingness of counties and municipalities to jointly develop and advocate
for mutually beneficial agreements, policies and strategies intended to influence regional, state and
national resilience efforts advances "Good Neighbor" relationships; and
WHEREAS, in 2005 the U.S. Conference of Mayors adopted the U.S. Mayors' Climate
Protection Agreement (Mayors' Agreement) that became a national model for effective collaboration
and the framework for more than 1,000 municipalities throughout the nation to take actions to reduce
global warming and address the impacts of a changing climate (climate disruption); and
WHEREAS, in 2013 the need exists for Mayors within the region of Southeast Florida to
collaborate on a renewed agreement that will advance regional climate action planning within
Southeast Florida efforts while continuing to advance the national goals of the U.S. Mayors'
Agreement; and
WHEREAS, utilizing the U.S. Mayors' Agreement as a model for influencing regional
climate policies and effective public outreach, all municipalities throughout the Southeast Florida
region are invited to sign on to the 2012 South Florida Mayors' Climate Action Pledge and to
collaborate on implementation of the RCAP starting today and for tomorrow.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY
COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF SOUTH MIAMI, FLORIDA:
Section 1. The City of South Miami endorses the Mayors' Climate Action Pledge.
Section 2. The City of South Miami affirms support for the Southeast Florida Regional
Climate Change Compact.
Section 3. The City of South Miami agrees to consider integrating the Regional Climate
Action Plan framework in whole or in part as appropriate for each municipality into existing and
future municipal sustainability action plans, comprehensive plans and/or climate action plans where
and when appropriate and financially feasible.
Section 4. City of South Miami urges all Mayors within Miami-Dade County to join the
Mayors' Climate Action Pledge.
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Section 5. This resolution shall be effective upon adoption.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this __ day of _____ , 2013.
ATTEST:
CITY CLERK
READ AND APPROVED AS TO FORM,
LANGUAGE, LEGALITY AND
EXECUTION THEREOF
CITY ATTORNEY
APPROVED:
MAYOR
COMMISSION VOTE:
Mayor Stoddard:
Vice Mayor Liebman:
Commissioner Newman:
Commissioner Harris:
Commissioner Welsh:
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Southeast Florida Regional Climate Change Compact
WHEREAS, there is consensus among the world's leading scientists that global
climate change is among the most significant problems facing the world today; and
WHEREAS, Florida is considered one of the most vulnerable areas in the country
to the consequences of climate change with Southeast Florida on the front line to experience
the impacts of climate change, especially sea level rise; and
WHEREAS, Broward, Miami-Dade, Palm Beach and Monroe Counties, herein the
four counties that constitute the Southeast Florida Region, share in common a strong quality
of life rooted in the region's rich cultural heritage, vigorous economy, and environmental
resources of global significance; and
WHEREAS, the aforementioned four counties of Southeast Florida, which
represent approximately 30% of the population of the State of Florida, are physically linked
one to the other by the Atlantic Ocean coastline and share some of the world's most
renowned natural resources such as the Everglades, our unique coral reefs, beautiful beaches,
and fragile Keys ecosystem; and
WHEREAS, the four counties of Southeast Florida and their respective
populations, totaling more than five million residents, are expected to share in
disproportionately high risks associated with climate change due to low land elevations,
rising sea level projections, and anticipated increases in tropical storm events; and
WHEREAS, rising sea levels could limit the effectiveness of critical drainage
infrastructure, endanger beaches, and coastal natural resources and increase incidents of
saltwater intrusion on the Biscayne Aquifer -putting at risk the drinking water supply for
the entire population of Southeast Florida; and
WHEREAS, local governments, and the region as a whole, must give significant
consideration to adaptation strategies designed to protect public infrastructure, property,
water resources, natural areas and native species, and basic quality of life; and
WHEREAS, the aforementioned four counties of Southeast Florida account for a
combined Gross Domestic Product of more than $2.5 billion annually and more than 37%
of statewide economic output; and
WHEREAS, while the four counties of Southeast Florida have independently taken
steps to address global climate change, all parties recognize that coordinated and collective
action on this, the defining issue for Southeast Florida in the 21 st Century, will best serve the
citizens of the region;
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARDS OF
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF THE FOUR COUNTIES OF SOUTHEAST
FLORIDA:
SECTION 1: That each county shall work in close collaboration with the
aforementioned counties of Southeast Florida party to this compact to develop a joint policy
position urging the United States Congress to pass legislation that recognizes the unique
vulnerabilities of Southeast Florida to the impacts of climate change and to further a joint
policy position that includes specific recommendations regarding the allocation of federal
climate change funding based on vulnerability to climate change impacts. Such
recommendations might include designation of areas of Southeast Florida as uniquely
vulnerable and of federal interest for the purpose of securing enhanced levels of federal
participation in regional adaptation projects.
SECTION 2: That each county shall work in close collaboration with the other
counties party to this compact to develop additional legislative policy statements relating to
global climate change and future legislation to be considered by the Congress of the United
States for transmittal to the Congressional Delegation representing, in part or in whole,
districts within the area covered by this compact.
SECTION 3: That each county shall work in close collaboration with other
counties party to this compact in developing joint position statements on proposed State
legislation and energy/climate policies including but not limited to issues such as the region's
energy and climate security and a renewable energy portfolio standard that defines renewable
energy sources as wind, solar, geothermal, biomass, landfill gas, qualified hydropower, and
marine and hydrokinetic energy, and also including nuclear energy, and to collaborate on
other emerging energy/climate issues that may be considered by the 2010 Florida Legislature
for transmittal to the Legislative Delegation representing, in part or in whole, districts within
the area covered by this compact.
SECTION 4: That each county shall work with other counties party to this
compact in developing joint position statements for future State legislation that may be
considered by the Florida Legislature for transmittal to the Legislative Delegation
representing, in part or in whole, districts within the area covered by this compact.
SECTION 5: That each county shall commit appropriate staff resources and
expertise, within budget constraints, to participate in a Regional Climate Team with other
counties party to this compact toward the development of a Southeast Florida Regional
Climate Change Action Plan.
SECTION 6: That each county shall work with other counties party to this
compact in developing a Southeast Florida Regional Climate Change Action Plan,
understanding that no county will work at cross-purposes with the other counties. The
Action Plan could, at a minimum, include the following components:
(a) A baseline of greenhouse gas emissions for Southeast Florida;
(b) Strategies for coordinated emission reductions throughout the built environment
to include the use of energy efficiency, energy conservation, and the use of
demand-side renewable energy resources;
(c) Strategies for coordinated emission reductions from the transportation sector to
include increased reliance on public transit, emerging vehicle technologies, and
advanced biofuels;
(d) Strategies for coordinated emission reductions resulting from changes in local
and regional land use;
(e) Strategies for the coordinated regional preparation for and adaptation to a
rapidly changing global environment based upon regional mapping of projected
sea-level rise and any resulting amplification of localized impacts of tropical
cyclone events. Such strategies shall incorporate climate preparation concerns
for the regional economy, regional infrastructure and the built environment,
social and cultural needs, and natural systems within the four counties party to
this compact.
SECTION 7: That each county shall commit to participating with other counties
party to this compact in hosting the Second Southeast Florida Regional Climate Change
Summit in October, 2010.
Adopted December 8, 2009
Adopted December 1, 2009
Adopted January 20,2010 1*
Adopted December 15, 2009
*City of Key West: Resolution of support for the Compact -December 15, 2009
I Second adoption date following minor changes made by partnering Counties