2016-29294 Reso RESOLUTION NO. 2016-29294
A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF
THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, RESPECTFULLY
URGING FLORIDA GOVERNOR RICK SCOTT TO JOIN
WORLD AND LOCAL LEADERS IN RECOGNIZING THE
FINDINGS OF THE WORLD'S SCIENTIFIC COMMUNITY WITH
REGARD TO CLIMATE CHANGE AND ITS CURRENT
IMPACTS AND FUTURE IMPLICATIONS FOR THE WORLD
AND THE STATE OF FLORIDA.
WHEREAS, climate change has been the focus of decades of intensive study by
scientists worldwide, and has been internationally recognized as one of the earth's most critical
problems; and
WHEREAS, in December 2015, representatives from 195 nations around the world
approved a landmark agreement in Paris ("Paris Climate Pact") that requires long-term global
efforts to address climate change by taking steps to avert and minimize the devastating effects
of sea level rise by lowering planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions; and
WHEREAS, according to the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
("NOAA") and the National Aeronautics and Science Administration ("NASA"), 2015 was the
Earth's warmest year since such record-keeping history began in 1880; and
WHEREAS, according to NOAA, NASA, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, sea
level rise is projected to increase over time, which could have catastrophic effects on the world's
coastal inhabitants; and
WHEREAS, prior to the Paris Climate Pact, the United States took a leadership role in
addressing climate change by enacting the country's first climate change policy that
strengthened Environmental Protection Agency regulations to reduce greenhouse gas pollution
from the nation's coal-fired power plants; and
WHEREAS, the City of Miami Beach has taken the national lead in addressing sea level
rise on a local level by investing $400 million in stormwater infrastructure projects, which include
installing new stormwater pump stations, retrofitting ouffalls with backflow preventers, and
elevating roads to reduce flooding in the City; and
WHEREAS, despite the world-wide recognition of climate change and plans to address
it, the State of Florida, while acknowledging sea level rise, has not recognized the devastating
impacts facing the State due to the underlying problem of climate change due to global
warming; and
WHEREAS, in view of the unique vulnerability of the State of Florida to climate change
and sea level rise as the nation's third-most populous state, with two-thirds of its nearly 20
million residents living in coastal communities, and due to Southeast Florida's porous limestone
geology, the Mayor and City Commission of the City of Miami Beach respectfully urge Governor
Rick Scott to join world and local leaders by recognizing and acknowledging global climate
change as an immediate concern to the State and to take actions that will protect the people of
Florida from the devastating implications of global warming.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT DULY RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY
COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, that Florida Governor Rick Scott
is hereby respectfully urged to join world and local leaders in recognizing the findings of the
world's scientific community with regard to climate change and its current impacts and future
implications for the world and the State of Florida.
PASSED and ADOPTED this /0 day of Fe b 'L Q t , 2016.
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City Attorney Date
F:WTTO\TURN\RESOS\Climate Change Impact on FL[final version].doc
OFFICE OF THE CITY ATTORNEY
RAULJ. AGUILA, CITY ATTORNEY COMMISSION MEMORANDUM
TO: Members of the City Commission
City Manager Jimmy Morales
FROM: Raul J. Aguila, City Attorn 'J �
DATE: February 10, 2016
SUBJECT: A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF
THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, RESPECTFULLY
URGING FLORIDA GOVERNOR RICK SCOTT TO JOIN
WORLD AND LOCAL LEADERS IN RECOGNIZING THE
FINDINGS OF THE WORLD'S SCIENTIFIC COMMUNITY WITH
REGARD TO CLIMATE CHANGE AND ITS CURRENT
IMPACTS AND FUTURE IMPLICATIONS FOR THE WORLD
AND THE STATE OF FLORIDA.
The attached Resolution is sponsored by Commissioner Kristen Rosen Gonzalez
and is submitted for consideration by the Mayor and City Commission at the February
10, 2015 City Commission Meeting.
F:WTTO\TURN\COMMMEMO\Climate Change Impact on FL.docx
Agenda Item R7 C
Date_12_10:11_0
MIAMI BEACH
City of Miami Beach, 1700 Convention Center Drive,Miami Beach, Florida 33139,www.miamibeachfl.gov
Office of the City Clerk
Tel: 305-673-7411
February 17, 2016
•
Honorable Governor Rick Scott
The Capitol
400 S Monroe St.
Tallahassee, FL 32399
Dear Honorable Governor Scott,
Attached please find a copy of City of Miami Beach Resolution No. 2016-29294:
A Resolution Respectfully Urging Florida Governor Rick Scott To Join
World And Local Leaders In Recognizing The Findings Of The World's
Scientific Community With Regard To Climate Change And Its Current
Impacts And Future Implications For The World And The State Of Florida.
This Resolution was unanimously passed and adopted by the Mayor and City
Commission of the City of Miami Beach on February 10, 2016.
If you need additional information, please do not hesitate to call.
Respectfully,
211
Rafael E. Granado
City Clerk
c: Commissioner Kristen Rosen Gonzalez