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SALT LAKE CITY CORPORATION
Resolution 41 of 2015
JOINT RESOLUTION URGING CONGRESS TO LEVY REVENUE-NEUTRAL FEE ON CARBON IN FOSSIL FUELS
Whereas, climate scientists worldwide are in near-unanimous agreement that the planet is warming rapidly and this must be slowed to prevent the development of a climate that is perilous to human civilization, numerous species, and the global ecosystem we all share; and
Whereas, Salt Lake City is already feeling the local effects of climate change through increased temperatures, changes in water systems, extreme weather events and other disruptions that threaten our economy, residents and overall quality of life; and
Whereas, the primary cause of that warming globally is human activity, especially the combustion of fossil fuels that create greenhouse gases and alter the chemical composition of the Earth’s atmosphere and oceans.; and
WHEREAS, Salt Lake City Corporation has demonstrated its commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through the transformation of City facilities to “net zero” energy use, increased use of clean or alternative fuel vehicles in the City fleet, reduction of barriers to installing renewable energy such as solar panels and ongoing regulatory, programmatic and policy support for clean energy and clean vehicle deployment on a community-scale and regionally throughout Utah; and
Whereas, the urgent need to transition from fossil fuels can be accelerated through a market-based program, namely a revenue-neutral carbon fee on producers and corresponding rebate to consumers, and
WHEREAS, a market-driven mechanism such as a carbon fee and dividend would encourage and empower residents to reduce and replace their consumption of carbon-based energy with renewable and other innovative energy sources, whether through conservation, being more efficient or by choosing less carbon-intensive energy sources; and
Whereas,
the transition to
low-carbon, renewable energy resources will provide a range of additional
co-benefits including enhanced public health, increased national and energy
security, local green jobs, reduced reliance on finite resources and myriad
other positive outcomes.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED
that that the Salt Lake City Council and Mayor of Salt Lake City strongly urge the United States Congress to pass legislation that levies an annually increasing revenue-neutral fee on the carbon in fossil fuels at the point of production and importation, sufficient to:
1. Encourage individuals and corporations to produce and use less fossil fuels;
2. Make the transition from fossil fuels less onerous to consumers and to the economy by returning to American households on an equitable basis all of the revenues gained from the fee;
3. Reduce United States’ CO2-equivalent emissions to 10% of 1990 levels by 2050;
4. Encourage similar actions by other nations trading with the United States, by suitable carbon content-based fees for imports and rebates for exports to nations that have not taken such actions.
Passed by the City Council of Salt Lake City, Utah, this 10th day of November, 2015.