SUBJECT:
Title
Climate Emergency Proclamation
Body
DEPARTMENT: Environmental Services
Department
PRESENTER(S): Eryka Thorley, Sustainability Manager
Councilor Dan Hoback, Sponsor
Councilor Emily Baer, Sponsor
First Name Last Name, Title
POLICY ISSUES:
Declaring a Climate Emergency signifies to all Erie residents, the State, and Country that the Town of Erie Town Council recognizes the severity of the climate crisis, establishing a baseline for Erie’s elected officials to support policy that combats climate disruption, reduces overall impact, and increases resiliency and adaptation for the residents of Erie and beyond.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
Approve the proclamation.
End
SUMMARY AND BACKGROUND OF SUBJECT MATTER:
The year 2023 was the warmest year on record since global record keeping began consistently in 1850. 2023 was 1.18C warmer than the previous record-breaking year in 2016. Declaring a climate emergency underscores the severity of the climate crisis for Erie residents while supporting prompt and impactful action essential to combating its effects. Additionally, this declaration highlights the Town of Erie’s dedication to reducing its own climate footprint including efforts towards increasing resilience and adaptation while simultaneously aligning the Town with over 2,355 jurisdictions in 40 countries that have declared a climate emergency to date.
In the words of Boulder County Commissioners, who declared a climate emergency in 2019, “Human-caused emissions of greenhouse gases are impacting Earth’s climactic system, causing unprecedented, large-scale, adverse health, social, economic, financial, security, and ecological effects. Restoring a safe and stable climate requires an emergency to reach zero greenhouse gas emissions across all sectors.” Additionally, these impacts can be felt by Erie residents in the form of reduced snowpack, earlier snowmelt, increased risk of high intensity wildfires, extreme weather events, and an increased number of “high heat” days. These impacts are already manifesting themselves in the form of wildfires burning twice as much acreage now as they did in 1980, more frequent and more severe flooding such as the devastating 2013 Flood, and an increase in the number of summer days that will reach temperatures of over 95°F.
The Town of Erie is dedicated to reducing its own climate influence and greenhouse gas emissions through considering climate impacts in all decisions moving forward, developing and adopting a Climate Action Plan in 2025, sourcing 95% of Erie’s energy through renewable energy accounts by 2050, creating and maintaining zero and low-emission transportation opportunities, and strategic waste diversion efforts to reduce overall landfill materials and related greenhouse gas emissions.
This proclamation highlights the dedication of Erie residents and Town staff to reduce our collective climate impacts while amplifying mitigation, resilience, and adaptation efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and overall climate disruptions for Erie and beyond moving forward.
COUNCIL PRIORITY(S) ADDRESSED:
ü Attractive Community Amenities
ü Engaged and Diverse Community
ü Prosperous Economy
ü Well-Maintained Transportation Infrastructure
ü Small Town Feel
ü Safe and Healthy Community
ü Effective Governance
ü Environmentally Sustainable
ü Fiscally Responsible
ATTACHMENT(S):
1. Climate Emergency Proclamation 2024