HomeMy Public PortalAbout2020-50 Declaring a Climate EmergencyRESOLUTION NO.2O2O.5O
A RESOLUTION OF THE VILLAGE COT]NCIL OF TIIE
VILLAGE OF KEy BISCAYNE, FLORIDA, DECLARTNC A
CLIT{ATE EMERGENCY; URGING MIAI\{I-DADE
cottNTy, ALL MUNTCTPALITIES IN MIAIdI-DADE
coUNTy, THE STATE OF FLORIDA,, AND THE IIMTED
STATES GOVERI\MENT TO DECLARE A CLIIUATE
EMERGENCY; REQTJESTING LOCAL ATID REGIONAL
COLLABORATION ON A PLAN FOR EMERGENCY
MOBILIZATION EFF'ORTS TO RESTORE A SAFE AIID
SUSTNNABLE CLIN,IATE; PROCLNMING A CALL TO
ACTION FOR THE VILLAGE TO CONTINIJE EFFORTS
TOWARDS A,DAPTATION, IIIITIGATION, ANI)
RESILIENCY STRATEGIES; PROVIDING FOR
TRANSMITTAL; AI\D PROVIDING FOR AI\ EFFECTTVE
DATE.
WHEREAS, the planet is currartly experiencing climate change in the form of rising
global temperatures due to the increased emission of greenhouse gasses, which can lead to severe
changes in the Earth's climate by ampli$ing the severity and rate of climatological events that
harm life, including, but not limited to severe droughts, hurricanes, flooding, and wildfires; and
WIIEREAS, on April 22,20l6,world leaders from 175 countries recognized the threat of
climate change and the urgent need to combat it by signing the Paris Agreement, agreeing to keep
the incrcase in global average ternpcrature to'lvell below 2oC above pre-industrial levels," and to
'fursue efforts to limit the temperature increase to l.5oC"; and
WHf,REAS, the Village of Key Biscayne ('Village') has experienced the disruption and
destnrction already wrought by climate change through hurricanes, flooding, water quality issues
and other climatic events, that are also evidenced nationwide and worldwide by increased and
intensifring wildfires, floods, rising seas, diseases, droughts, and exteme weather; and
WHEREAS, the ecological effects of climate change are driving an increased rate of
extinction of land and oceanic species, which could consequently devastate ecological stability
and much of the biological life on Earth for futr:re generations; and
I
WHEREAS, reaching zero greenhouse gas ernissions around the globe will require a
drawdown or removal of all the excess carbon from the atmosphere, and to implement measures
to protect all people and other biological species, requiring a coordinated emergency mobilization
on a global scale; and
WHEREAS, the Village is directly i'"rpacted by climate change through climatic events
of increased number and size and has engaged in a series of efforts on climate adaptation,
mitigation and resiliency initiatives; and
WHEREAS, the Village has forged stategic relationships to build a broad coalition to
support strengthening the Village's adaptation, mitigation and resiliency initiatives; and
WIIEREAS, the Village is committed to pursuing policies and programs that are
ecologically sustainable, equitable and just for all such as prohibiting the use of plastic straws,
certain fertilizers, and polystyrene food service articles that negatively impact the Village's
environment; and
WIIEREAS, the Village wishes to act as a global leader by both converting to an
ecologically, socially and economically regenerative economy at emergency speed and by
catalyzingaunified and coordinated climate emergency mobilization effort; and
WHEREAS, the Village commits to Village-wide climate emergency mobilization efforts
to reverse climate change, aiming, with appropriate financial and regulatory assistance from
Miami-Dade County (the "County"), the State of Florida, and Fedet'al authorities, to decrease and
minimize Village-wide greenhouse gas emissions as quickly as possible to safely drawdown
carbon from the atmosphere and accelerate adaptation and resiliency strategies in preparation for
intensiffing climate impacts; and
WIIEREAS, the Village further commits to educating its residents about the climate
2
emergency and working to catalyze climate emergency mobilization efforts on local, state,
national, and global levels to provide maximum protection for its residents and property owners;
and
WffiREAS, the Village understands the need for full community participation, inclusion,
and support and recognizes that Viltage residents, prop€rty owners and community organizations
that include faith, youth, labor, academic instinrtions, condominium associations, and a diverse
ftmge of civil society institutions will be integral to and in the leadership ofthe mobilization effort;
and
WHEREAS' the Village further commits to keeping the concerns of rnrlnerable
communities central to climate emergency rnobilization efforts and inviting and encouraging such
communities to actively participate in order to advocate directly for their needs; and
WHEREAS, the Village Council finds that this Resolution is in the best interest and
welfare of the residents and properly owners of the Village.
NO% TTTEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY TIIE VILLAGE COUNCIL OF Tm
VILLAGE OF'KEY BISCAYNE, tr',LORrDA, AS F'OLLOIVS:
Sectlon 1. Recltals. That each of the above-stated recitals are hereby adopted,
confimred, and incorporated herein.
Section 2. Decllration of Climate Emerqencv: Call to Action. That the Village
Council hereby declares a climate emergency; urgos the County, municipalities in Miami-Dade
County, the State of Florida" and the United States government to declare a climate emergency;
and requests local and regional collaboration on an immediate emergency mobilization effort to
restore a safe climate. The Village Council hereby declares an immediate call to action to mobilize
3
and engage in continued efforts to achieve adaption" mitigation and resiliency initiatives aimed at
addressing climate impacts.
Section 3. Tranqmlttal. That the Village Clerk is directed to send a copy of this
Resolution to: the Speaker of the United Sates House of Representatives; the Majority Leader of
the United States Senate; each Florida Senator and Representative in the United States Congress;
the County Mayor; the County Board of County Commissioners; all municipalities within the
Counf; all members of the South Florida Legislative Delegation; the Florida League of Cities;
and the Miami-Dade County League of Cities.
Section 4. Effecfive Date. This Resolution shall become effective immediately upon
adoption.
PASSED and ADOPTED this 25ft day of August,z}2}.
r
tzI
W. DAVEY, MAYOR
ATTEST:
o K"
JOCELYN B.
VILLAGE CLERK
APPROVED AS TO FORM AI{D LEGAL STJFFICIENCY:
WEISS SEROTA HELFMA}.I COLE & BIERMAN, P.L.
VILLAGE ATTORMY
4