HomeMy WebLinkAbout1212 - IN SUPPORT OF COMPREHENSIVE NATIONAL CLIMATE POLICY IN THE FORM OF A REVENUE-NEUTRAL CARBON FEE AND DIVIDENDRESOLUTION NUMBER 1212
A RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF COMPREHENSIVE NATIONAL CLIMATE POLICY
IN THE FORM OF A REVENUE -NEUTRAL CARBON FEE AND DIVIDEND
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BOULDER, COLORADO FINDS AND
RECITES:
A. There is scientific consensus regarding changes to our climate caused by human
activity, especially the combustion of fossil fuels that create greenhouse gases.
B. Climate change has been widely recognized by government, business and
academic leaders as a worldwide threat to our economy, safety, public health,
and quality of life.
C. Changes in the earth's climate are occurring at a rate that creates significant
risks to natural and human systems worldwide.
D. As described in detail by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change,
continued emissions of greenhouse gases will increase the likelihood of "severe,
pervasive and irreversible impacts for people and ecosystems."
E. Keeping the global average temperature increase (relative to preindustrial
levels) to less than 2 degrees Celsius will require substantial emissions
reductions over the next few decades.
F. The U.S. Global Change Research Program's assesses risks specific to the U.S.
Southwest, including Colorado, summarized as follows: "Increased heat,
drought, and insect outbreaks, all linked to climate change, have increased
wildfires. Declining water supplies, reduced agricultural yields, health impacts in
cities due to heat, and flooding and erosion in coastal areas are additional
concerns."
G. The City of Boulder desires to protect and enhance quality of life for all those
who live, work, learn and play in our community, as well as for our future
generations.
H. Boulder City Council, city departments, and other Boulder entities have already
taken many actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions within the city. Boulder
has devoted significant attention to sustainability of our climate for many years,
launching its first formal climate action efforts in 2002.
I. The city has been at the forefront of innovation in working to reduce climate
impacts, including adopting the country's first carbon tax, developing a national
J.
model for delivering energy efficiency services, enacting the country's most
stringent energy code for new buildings, and other actions.
Boulder's Climate Commitment builds on our Climate Action Plan and lays out a
comprehensive strategy to reduce community GHG emissions at least 80 percent
by the year 2050.
K. The City of Boulder's emissions reduction goal is equivalent to what the United
States had originally committed to under the Paris Agreement.
L. The City of Boulder is joined in acting on climate change by a global coalition of
cities, state and national governments and community and private sector leaders
who recognize the importance and potential of these actions to protect and
enhance the well-being of current and future generations.
M. The City of Boulder encourages all federal representatives to act to reverse the
disappointing executive actions that jeopardize the world's ability to combat
climate change.
N. A national revenue -neutral carbon fee and dividend is an effective policy for
significantly reducing U.S. carbon emissions while simultaneously maintaining
robust economic growth. Such a policy would have the following components:
1. A fee on the CO2 -equivalent emissions of fossils fuels at the point where the
fuel enters the economy, i.e., the wellhead, mine mouth, or port of entry. The
fee starts at a modest level, e.g. $15/ton, and increases steadily on a
predetermined schedule, e.g. by $10/year, until U.S. greenhouse gas
emissions are reduced to 10% of their 1990 levels.
2. A prompt return of all the revenue from the fee via equitable dividends to all
U.S. households
3. WTO -compliant border fees and adjustments designed to maintain the
competitiveness of U.S. businesses and create incentives for other countries
to enact their own carbon -pricing policies.
0. Many economists across the political spectrum support this kind of revenue -
neutral carbon fee and dividend as the most effective greenhouse gas mitigation
strategy for the U.S.
P. By putting a price on greenhouse gas emissions, such a policy directly supports
all of Boulder's climate change policies and programs by making them more
cost-effective, and allows the City to achieve its climate action plan goals at
lower cost.
Q. The dividend portion of the policy protects lower-income citizens from the
adverse effects of the price increases induced by the carbon fee: economic
studies estimate that more than half of Boulder's citizens will receive dividends
greater than those increased costs.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BOULDER,
THAT:
Section 1: The City of Boulder re -affirms its commitment to reducing climate
pollution in alignment with the city's climate commitment goal of reducing
greenhouse gas emissions 80 percent by 2050, as compared to a 2005 baseline.
Section 2: The City of Boulder re -affirms its commitment to achieving 100 percent
clean, renewable electricity by 2030, as an important step in achieving our overall
climate goals.
Section 3: The City of Boulder declares that climate change is an urgent global
problem requiring immediate action to curb greenhouse gas emissions, and
therefore urges the U.S. Congress to enact comprehensive national greenhouse gas
mitigation policy in the form of a revenue neutral carbon fee and dividend.
Section 4: That the City Manager be directed to send a copy of this resolution to the
city's congressional delegation.
ADOPTED this 1 '` day of August, 2017
CITY OF BOULDER, OLORADO
Mayor
ATTEST:
Ci Cl