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<br />Climate Protection Projed <br /> <br />-Page 3 of 5 - <br /> <br />January 31, 2007 <br /> <br />became law in the 141 countries that adopted the Treaty. Unfortunately, The United States was <br />not one of the 141 countries. The Treaty sets binding legal commitments on participating <br />countries to reduce emissions an average or 5.2% below] 990 levels. If The United States had <br />ratified the Kyoto Treaty, we would be required to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 7% <br />below 1990 levels by 2012. <br /> <br />In 2005, the U.S. Conference of Mayor's developed the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection <br />Agreement which urged the federal and state governments to enact policies and programs to <br />meet the Kyoto Protocol target. The Agreement included a commitment to strive to meet the <br />Kyoto Protocol target by taking local actions such as conducting a baseline emissions inventory, <br />setting reduction targets and creating a climate action plan. former Mayor Young signed the <br />U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement on the City's behalf. <br /> <br />In September 2006, the State or California enacted AB 32, the Global Wam1ing Act of 2006, <br />which creates a statewide greenhouse gas emission limit that would reduce statewide emissions <br />to 1990 levels by 2020. Reaching this target necessitates an approximate reduction in <br />greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 25-30% below the level of emissions that the State <br />is forecasted to reach by 2020. It is not yet fully clear what measures the State plans to take to <br />achieve this reduction goal, but it is clear that the State will be looking to local governments for <br />assistance. Hopefully, this will equate to financial assistance and other resources and incentives <br />for local governmcnts to implement emissions reduction programs. <br /> <br />In an efrort to provide municipal leadership on the climate issuc, and to demonstrate to the State <br />that local governments can and mLlst playa role in meeting the state target, staff recommends <br />adoption of a 25% reduction below 2005 greenhouse gas emission levels by 2020. Achieving <br />this target necessitates a 5% reduction every 3 years. <br /> <br />Milestone 3-::- Dey~JgQ--,-l. Climjl.te Actiofl.planfor E-educir1!:': Emissiol)1'. <br />The next step will be to develop a Climate Action Plan for the City. Staff will create an internal <br />task force including individuals from Community Development, Engineering and Transportation, <br />Finance, Public Works and the City Manager's officc. The task force will evaluate the costs and <br />benefits to various energy saving and sol id waste management strategies and bring a draft <br />Climate Action Plan to Council for approval by the end of2007. <br /> <br />The City will work with other organizations that have committed to work towards reducing <br />greenhouse gas emissions. for example, the BAAQMD at their annual summit on November 10, <br />2006 allocated $3 million to fund emissions reduction programs. Additionally, ABAG, in <br />partnership with PG&E, is offering an energy watch program for local governments which the <br />City can participate in. <br /> <br />reLET, in partnership with Stopwaste.org, is working on an Action Plan Template which <br />includes a list of emissions reduction programs for the City to consider. Some examples follow: <br />. Adoption of a green building ordinance that requires City funded projects to become <br />LEED certified. <br />. Adoption of a bay friendly landscaping ordinance which promotes sustainable <br />landscaping, grasscycling, em-site mulching, and the use of fewer pesticides. <br />