HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution 2019-166 N.C.S. 10/07/2019Resolution No. 2019-166 N.C.S.
of the City of Petaluma, California
RESOLUTION ENCOURAGING CONGRESS TO INCLUDE A REVENUE
NEUTRAL CARBON TAX AS PART OF A COMPREHENSIVE
PACKAGE TO COMBAT GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE
WHEREAS, global climate warming caused by human activity, primarily carbon
emissions, poses an existential threat to the future of planet earth; and
WHEREAS, on May 6, 2019 the Petaluma City Council unanimously adopted a
resolution declaring a climate emergency and committed the City of Petaluma to accelerating
climate mitigation, adaptation and resilience strategies; and
WHEREAS, the United States was initially a signatory to the 2015 Paris Agreement,
committing signatory countries to keep warming this century to well below two degrees Celsius
above pre -industrial levels; and
WHEREAS, the United States has since withdrawn from the 2015 Paris Agreement; and
WHEREAS, after the next presidential inauguration on January 20, 2021, it is hoped that
the United States will promptly rejoin the 2015 Paris Agreement; and
WHEREAS, meeting the goals of the 2015 Paris Agreement will require that the United
States adopt a comprehensive package of strategies; and
WHEREAS, currently pending in Congress is H.R. 763, which would impose a revenue -
neutral carbon tax, with an initial tax of $15.00 per ton of carbon dioxide emissions, increasing
by an additional $10.00 per ton every year thereafter until specified targets are met, with all of
the tax proceeds distributed as per capita monthly dividends to all American households; and
WHEREAS, H.R. 763 is particularly aggressive in that the proposed tax would be
approximately 15 cents per gallon of gasoline initially, increasing by ten cents per gallon
annually thereafter for the foreseeable future; and
WHEREAS, H.R. 763 is not currently expected to receive a committee hearing, a
committee vote or a floor vote in the House of Representatives in the 116th Congress; and
WHEREAS, another carbon tax bill with a rebate feature, S. 2284, authored by Senators
Feinstein and Coons, is currently pending in Congress, but is also not expected to pass; and
Resolution No. 2019-166 N.C.S. Page 1
WHEREAS, the concept of a revenue -neutral carbon tax is appealing because it would
unleash the "invisible hand" of market economics and reduce carbon emissions in the most
economically efficient manner possible;
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, by the City Council of the City of Petaluma
that the City of Petaluma hereby encourages Congress to adopt a revenue -neutral carbon tax as
part of a comprehensive package of strategies to combat climate change and to meet the
obligations of the United States under the 2015 Paris Agreement.
REFERENCE:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN
ATTEST:
Under the power and authority conferred upon this Council by the Charter of said City.
I hereby certify the foregoing Resolution was introduced and adopted by the
Council of the City of Petaluma at a Regular meeting on the 711 day of October
2019, by the following vote:
Mayor Barrett; Fischer; Healy; Kearney; King; Vice Mayor McDonnell; Miller
None
None
None
r
City Clerk
City
/2
Mayor
as to
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