Wednesday, May 23, 2007

City Council approves resolution on global warming

ATLANTA – Atlanta City Council has approved a resolution calling for the City of Atlanta to initiate actions to conserve energy.

 A resolution, sponsored by District 6 Councilmember Anne Fauver and District 8 Councilmember Clair Muller, was approved this week by a vote of 9-0. (Legislative # 07-R-0992)

 Councilmember Fauver said, “this legislation encourages us to focus on improving our environment by conserving energy and increasing the number of items that can be recycled.”

 “We need to work toward sustainability in our Country and our City,” said Councilmember Clair Muller.

 Under the resolution the Council has recommended that the Mayor:

• Conduct an assessment of City-owned buildings and determine how to make each city building more energy efficient.

• Expand items that can be included in the City’s recycling program.

• Construct new City buildings to meet or exceed the Green level of (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) LEEDS certification.

• Educate residents of the City of Atlanta on how to change their daily activities to conserve energy and reduce the human causes of global warming.

• Develop a plan to reduce the City of Atlanta ’s energy use by at least 15 percent overall by 2010.

The Council recommended that federal and state authorities:

• Establish a national program requiring reduction of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions.

• Encourage rapid development of sustainable energy technologies.

• Provide federal grants and loans for projects that lower the greenhouse gas emissions.

• Reduce the greenhouse gas emissions in Georgia to 90 percent of the 1990 levels by 2010.

NASA scientists have predicted peak summer temperatures in Atlanta as high as 110 degrees if climate change continues at its current pace.