HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution 2017-171 N.C.S. 11/20/2017Resolution No. 2017-171 N.C.S.
of the City of Petaluma, California
RESOLUTION URGING THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS TO ENACT A
REVENUE -NEUTRAL CARBON FEE AND DIVIDEND PROGRAM
WHEREAS, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has stated in its recently
released 5th Assessment Report, Climate Change 2013: The Physical Science Basis, that
"[w]arming of the climate system is unequivocal" and "[i]t is extremely likely that human
influence has been the dominant cause of the observed warming since the mid -20th century"; and
WHEREAS, in May of 2013, the global atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide
reached 400 parts per million, the highest level in the last 800,000 years; and
WHEREAS, in May 2014, two separate scientific papers were published in the journals
Science and Geophysical Research Leiter documenting dramatic retreats of Antarctic glaciers
and predicting that large-scale destruction of the West Antarctic ice sheets is likely now
inevitable and will lead to sea level rises of 10 feet or more, and
WHEREAS, conservative estimates by climate scientists throughout the world state that
to achieve climate stabilization and avoid cataclysmic climate change, emissions of greenhouse
gases must be brought to 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050; and
WHEREAS, the California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 (Division 25.5
(commencing with Section 38500) of the Health and Safety Code) commits the state to reduce
greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020, and the Governor's Executive Order S-3-05
further calls on the State to establish a policy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 80 percent
below 1990 levels by 2050; and
WHEREAS, the City of Petaluma supports powerful new policies to meet greenhouse
gas emission reduction goals in accordance with the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement despite the
United States' formal withdrawal from that accord; and
WHEREAS, the City of Petaluma recognizes the threat that uncontrolled sea level rise
moreover recognizes the need for poses to our local well-being, economic activity, and
survivability as a connnunity, and continued urgent action on a broad scale to counter the
degradation of the natural and economic environment that results from warming temperatures
and ocean acidification; and
WHEREAS, the United States Congress can enact a national carbon tax on fossil fuels,
based on the amount of carbon dioxide the fuel will emit when burned; and
Resolution No. 2017-171 N.C.S. Page 1
WHEREAS, for efficient administration, fossil fuels can be taxed once, as far upstream
in the economy as practical, or at the port of entry into the United States; and
WHEREAS, a national, revenue -neutral carbon tax starting at a relatively low rate and
increasing steadily over future years is a market-based solution that would minimally disrupt the
economy while sending a clear and predictable price signal to businesses to develop and use
noncarbon -based energy resources; and
WHEREAS, the Citizens' Climate Education Corporation Commissioned Regional
Economic Models, Inc. (REMI) to do a nation-wide macroeconomic study on the impact of a
revenue -neutral carbon tax; and
WHEREAS, REMI's study predicted that after 10 years, a revenue -neutral carbon tax
would lead to a decrease in carbon dioxide emissions by 33 percent, an increase in national
employment by 2.1 million jobs, and an average monthly dividend for a family of four of $288;
and
WHEREAS, border adjustments such as carbon -content -based tariffs on products
imported from countries without comparable carbon pricing and refiunds to our exporters of
carbon taxes paid can maintain the competitiveness of United States businesses in global
markets; and
WHEREAS, a national carbon tax can be implemented quickly and efficiently, and
respond to the urgency of the climate crisis, because the federal government already has in place
mechanisms, such as the Internal Revenue Service, needed to implement and enforce the tax and
already collects taxes from fossil diel producers and importers; and
WHEREAS, a national carbon tax would make the United States a leader in mitigating
climate change and the advancing clean energy technologies of the 21 st Century, and would
incentivize other countries to enact similar carbon taxes, thereby reducing global carbon dioxide
emissions without the need for complex international agreements.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City of Petaluma along with other
cities, businesses, and organizations urge the United States Congress to enact, without delay, a
tax on carbon -based fossil fuels with the stipulations that:
i the tax should be collected once, as far upstream in the economy as practical, or at the
port of entry into the United States;
Resolution No. 2017-171 N.C.S. Page 2
• the tax rate should start low and increase steadily and predictably to achieve the goal of
reducing carbon dioxide emissions in the United States to 80 percent below 1990 levels
by 2050;
• all tax revenue should be returned to middle- and low-income Americans to protect them
from the impact of rising prices due to the tax;
• that the international competitiveness of United States businesses should be protected by
using carbon -content -based tariffs and tax refunds; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City Manager of Petaluma transmit copies of
this resolution to the President and Vice President of the United States, to the Speaker of the
House of Representatives, to the Majority Leader of the Senate, to each Senator from California
in the Congress of the United States, to the member representing Petaluma in the House of
Representatives in Congress and to the author of this legislation for appropriate distribution.
Under the power and authority conferred upon this Council by the Charter of said City.
REFERENCE: I hereby certify the foregoing Resolution was introduced and adopted by theAppx ved 's t
Council of the City of Petaluma at a Regular meeting on the 201h day of November, a foam
2017, by the following vote: t
City Attorney
AYES: Albertson, Vice Mayor Barrett, Mayor Glass, Healy, Kearney, King, Miller
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
ATTEST:
City Clerk Mayor
Resolution No. 2017-171 N.C.S. Page 3