Resolution 2021-31664 RESOLUTION NO. 2021-31664
A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF
THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, RECOGNIZING THE
EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE CAUSED BY HUMAN ACTIVITY,
AND APPROVING THE CITY'S JOINT EFFORT WITH THE CITY OF
MIAMI, FLORIDA, TO ESTABLISH A CLIMATE ACTION GOAL TO
ACHIEVE NET ZERO GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS BY 2050.
WHEREAS, climate change and the global economy's overshoot of ecological limits are
driving the sixth mass extinction of species, which could devastate much of biological life on
Earth for the next 10 million years; and
WHEREAS, in April 2016, 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 increase in global average temperature to "well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-
industrial levels" and to "pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5 degree Celsius";
and
WHEREAS, Special report of the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate
Change concluded that carbon dioxide emissions must be reduced by 45 percent from 2010
levels by 2030, and reach net zero by 2050 in order to stabilize a 1.5 degree Celsius
temperature increase to prevent disastrous effects on global climate, ecosystems, and human
societies; and
WHEREAS, counties, cities and urban areas are in a unique position to combat climate
change, because cities and urban areas are responsible for producing 70 percent of climate-
changing greenhouse gas ("GHG") emissions worldwide; and
WHEREAS, any and all efforts possible must be made to prevent a 1.5 degree Celsius
increase in average global temperature, and cities must play a major role in reaching this goal;
and
WHEREAS, holding the increase in global average temperature to these levels would
significantly reduce the risks and impacts of climate change; and
WHEREAS, by taking positive steps to reduce GHG emissions and otherwise mitigate
the effects of climate change, cities can improve their quality of life, enhance their economic
prosperity, and protect the livability of our cities; and
WHEREAS, acknowledging the major role of cities and local governments in the
mobilization to address climate change, the United Nations General Secretary recognized the
Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy (formerly, the "Compact of Mayors") in
September 2014 in New York; and
WHEREAS, Miami-Dade County, the City of Miami Beach (the "City"), and City of Miami,
are vulnerable to the effects of climate change, with highly likely predicted changes which
include temperature increases throughout the year, greater likelihood of stronger and severe
storms an extended drought, rising sea level and increased frequency, and severity of heat
waves; and
WHEREAS, the City is an urban leader in addressing and responding to the actual and
measurable impacts of climate change by amending building and land development codes to
increase resiliency standards, including without limitation (i) increased open space, and
landscape requirements, (ii) new electric vehicle parking requirements, and (iii) a
groundbreaking requirement that new construction larger than 7, 000 square feet and ground
floor additions larger than 10, 000 square feet must meet applicable LEED or International
Living Future Institute standards, or pay a sustainability fee; and
WHEREAS, the City is reducing the risks from climate change through ambitious quality
of life investments in public infrastructure improvements through neighborhood improvement
projects that include road elevation, upgrading the stormwater, water and sewer infrastructure,
blue and green infrastructure, shade trees, and improved mobility through walking and biking
safety; and
WHEREAS, the City has already taken steps to aggressively address climate change
and renewable energy, and to reduce our community' s carbon emissions, by completing an
annual citywide and government operations GHG emissions inventory, streamlining the
permitting process for solar installations, and providing a Property Assessed Clean Energy
(PACE) Program for residents and businesses; and
WHEREAS, on October 14, 2015, the Mayor and City Commission adopted Resolution
No. 2015-29156, joining the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy and pledging to
reduce GHG emissions, track progress towards GHG reduction goals, and enhance the City's
resiliency to climate change; and
WHEREAS, on May 17, 2017, the Mayor and City Commission adopted Resolution No.
2017-29872, supporting the Sierra Club's "Ready for 100%" campaign, which challenges cities
across the United States to set a target of 100 percent clean, renewable energy, and supporting
the Sierra Club's "Mayors for 100% Clean Energy" campaign; and
WHEREAS, on October 16, 2019, the Mayor and City Commission adopted Resolution
No. 2019-31040, declaring a Climate Emergency, urging the State of Florida and the U.S.
government to declare a Climate Emergency, and requesting regional collaboration on an
immediate just transition and emergency mobilization effort to restore a safe climate; and
WHEREAS, on February 10, 2021, the Mayor and City Commission adopted Resolution
No. 2021-31575, endorsing several pledges (Under2 Coalition, United Nations (UN) Climate
Change's Climate Neutral Now, and C40 Race to Zero) to further commit to GHG emissions
reductions while planning for the challenges of climate change; and
WHEREAS, in addition, the City, along with Miami-Dade County and City of Miami, have
a unique partnership referred to as Greater Miami and the Beaches and are implementing
Resilient305, a shared resilience strategy to address resilience challenges prioritized through
intergovernmental and community collaboration; and
WHEREAS, in order to benefit all communities within Miami-Dade County, we must
maintain our commitment to climate action, climate resilience, and sustainability policies that
address the specific experiences, vulnerabilities, and needs of the most vulnerable
communities, by engaging such communities in climate mitigation and climate resilience
planning; and
WHEREAS, actions to reduce community GHG also improve community resilience to
climate disruption and provide multiple ancillary benefits such as reduced risk through a
diversified energy portfolio, reduced air pollution and associated health benefits, and increased
mobility choices; and
WHEREAS, the costs of addressing the climate crisis are far less than the costs of not
addressing the climate crisis and that solving the crisis will take significant public investment,
education, and commitment; and
WHEREAS, as such, the City is developing a Climate Action Plan which includes
guidelines for actions that should be implemented to reduce GHG emissions, and further sets
short-term GHG emissions reduction targets to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050; and
WHEREAS, it is in the best interests of the residents.of City of Miami Beach and City of
Miami, to establish a climate action goal to achieve a net zero gas emissions by 2050.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT DULY RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF
THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, that the Mayor and City Commission hereby
recognize the effects of climate change caused by human activity, and approve the City's joint
effort with the City of Miami, Florida to establish a climate action goal to achieve net zero
greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this 4?9_day of 4061, 2021.
ATTEST:
Dan Gelber, Mayor
4-1130/Z1
Rafa E. Granada, ty Clerk
� ;►e
(sponsored by Vice-Mayor Michael GongoraS''
Co-sponsored by Commissioner Micky Steinberg) • P®`` :
fNCOR? ORATED/
APPROVED AS TO
FORM & LANGUAGE
& FOR EXECUTION
n? — '3 --a4
City Attorney 0E14
Resolutions-C7 F
MIAMI BEACH
COMMISSION MEMORANDUM
TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Commission
FROM: Raul J.Aguila, Interim City Manager
DATE: April 29, 2021
SUBJECT:A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY
OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, RECOGNIZING THE EFFECTS OF
CLIMATE CHANGE CAUSED BY HUMAN ACTIVITY,AND APPROVING THE
CITY'S JOINT EFFORT WITH THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, TO
ESTABLISH A CLIMATE ACTION GOAL TO ACHIEVE NET ZERO
GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS BY 2050.
RECOMMENDATION
The Administration recommends the adoption of the Resolution.
BACKGROUND/HISTORY
Miami-Dade County, the City of Miami Beach, and City of Miami, are vulnerable to the effects of
climate change given its geography and topography. Scientific models indicate highly likely
predicted changes, including temperature increases throughout the years, greater likelihood of
stronger and severe storms, an extended drought, rising sea level and increased frequency and
severity of heat waves. The City of Miami Beach, along with Miami-Dade County and City of
Miami, is implementing Resilient305, a shared strategy to address resilience challenges
prioritized through intergovernmental and community collaboration.
To benefit all communities within Miami-Dade County, the City of Miami, and City of Miami
Beach must maintain their commitments to climate action, climate resilience, and sustainability
policies. Actions to reduce community greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions improve community
resilience to climate disruption and provide multiple ancillary benefits such as reduced risk
through a diversified energy portfolio, reduced air pollution and associated health benefits, and
increased mobility choices.
The City of Miami Beach has an extensive legislative history of adopting policies that support
community-wide GHG emissions reduction and is currently developing a Climate Action Plan
(CAP). The CAP includes guidelines to actions that should be implemented to reduce GHG
emissions and further sets short-term GHG emissions reduction targets to achieve carbon
neutrality by 2050.
On March 24, 2021, the Land Use and Sustainability Committee unanimously passed a motion
supporting a resolution recognizing the effects of global warming caused by human activity and
Page 213 of 538
establishing a climate action goal to achieve net zero GHG emissions by 2050.
ANALYSIS
As per the Paris Climate Agreement, to limit the adverse impacts of climate change, it is
imperative that GHG emissions be reduced to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius,
compared to pre-industrial levels. Furthermore, a special report of the United Nations
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change concluded that carbon dioxide emissions must be
reduced by 45 percent from 2010 levels by 2030 and reach net zero by 2050 in order to
stabilize a 1.5 degrees Celsius temperature increase to prevent disastrous effects on global
climate, ecosystems, and human societies.
Cities and urban areas are in a unique position to combat climate change because they are
responsible for producing 70% of climate changing GHG emissions worldwide. The County,
City of Miami, and City of Miami Beach are using the same assumptions and shared data for
their emissions inventories and forecasts. It is imperative to have cities and counties
collaborating on their efforts to reduce GHG emissions and to set interim targets to be able to
achieve aggressive long-term targets for GHG emissions reductions.
Through Resilient305, Miami Beach, together with City of Miami and Miami-Dade County, is
identifying actions and complementary strategies, that will reduce emissions. Emissions
reduction actions from Resilient305 focus on energy and water consumption in buildings
(BE305 program), electrifying infrastructure and fleets, prioritizing alternative modes of
transportation and evaluating actions on climate and energy justice. By working together and
having a unified approach, the City of Miami and City of Miami Beach will accelerate and amplify
their climate change mitigation actions.
SUPPORTING SURVEY DATA
Less than half of Miami Beach residents are satisfied with the City's efforts to be a green or
sustainable city. Reducing GHG emissions is an important step to increasing satisfaction.
CONCLUSION
The Administration recommends the adoption of the Resolution.
Applicable Area
Citywide
Is this a"Residents Right Does this item utilize G.O.
to Know" item. pursuant to Bond Funds?
City Code Section 2-14?
Yes No
Strategic Connection
Environment& Infrastructure- Reduce greenhouse gas emissions and heat.
Legislative Tracking
Environment and Sustainability
Sponsor
Vice-Mayor Michael Gongora and Co-sponsored by Commissioner Micky Steinberg
Page 214 of 538
ATTACHMENTS:
Description
o Resolution
Page 215 of 538