HomeMy WebLinkAboutresolution.council.002-22RESOLUTION #002
(Series of 2022)
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ASPEN, COLORADO,
COMMITING TO REDUCING GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS ASSOCIATED WITH
THE ASPEN COMMUNITY BY 63% BY 2030 AND 100% BY 2050 AND ADOPTING
WHEREAS, human activities are causing unprecedented global warming and in order to avoid
the worst climate impacts, global temperature should be kept under 1.5°C of pre -industrial
levels; and
WHEREAS, Aspen is facing an existential threat from climate change, with higher temperatures
being recorded across all seasons, more precipitation arriving as rain rather than snow, and the
annual frost -free period extending by over one month since 1980; and
WHEREAS, more frequent wildfire events both locally and nationally threaten the wilderness,
private and public property, community health and safety, including the risk of landslides and
increased days of impaired air quality; and
WHEREAS, the City of Aspen has made long-standing commitments to reduce its contributions
to global greenhouse gas emissions; and
WHEREAS, in 2017, City Council adopted the Aspen Climate Action Plan that established
goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 30% below 2007 levels by 2020, and 80% below
2007 levels by 2050; and
WHEREAS, these commitments have led to reductions in emissions from 2004 levels, yet with
international commitments falling short at COP26, local governments must continue to lead the
way on climate action; and
WHEREAS, in 2021, the City of Aspen signed on to the Race to Zero, which requires cities to
adopt interim science -based targets of a reduction of 2017 emissions by 63% by 2030, and 100%
reduction of emissions (net zero) by 2050; and
WHEREAS, science -based targets are greenhouse gas emissions targets that represent a fair
share of the global emissions reduction required to achieve 50% less emissions by 2030 and
reach global net zero by 2050; and
WHEREAS, resource extraction and processing accounts for 50% of global GHG emissions,
and Aspen can reduce related emissions by achieving waste diversion goals that circulate
materials back into the economy including reducing organics in the landfill by 25% by 2025 and
100% by 2050 and diverting 70% of total landfill materials by 2050; and
WHEREAS, the planning and strategy behind achieving these science -based targets will be
centered in equity in order to engage with community stakeholders and deliver an inclusive and
comprehensive path to achieving a net -zero future; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
ASPEN, COLORADO, THAT
The City Council of the City of Aspen hereby approves the resolution to recognize the pressing
need to limit global warming and adopt science -based targets to achieve a reduction of 2017
greenhouse gas emissions by 63% by 2030, and 100% reduction of emissions (net zero) by 2050;
and reduce organics in the landfill by 25% by 2025 and 100% by 2050 and divert 70% of total
landfill materials by 2050; and
The City of Aspen staff are hereby directed to:
1. Initiate project planning efforts to update the Community Climate Action and
Sustainability Plan using science -based targets set by ICLEI-Local Governments for
Sustainability, which includes the development of a comprehensive waste reduction
strategy for Aspen.
2. Ensure that all community -wide and government emission reductions strategies including
policy action items and community outreach are centered in equity so as to consider
different perspectives and areas of expertise.
INTRODUCED, READ AND ADOPTED by the City Council of the City of Aspen on the 1 Ith
day of January 2022.
709,
Torre, Mayor
I, Nicole Henning, duly appointed and acting City Clerk do certify that the foregoing is a
true and accurate copy of that resolution adopted by the City Council of the City of Aspen,
Colorado, at a meeting held, January 11, 2022.
'—Ac�
Nicole Henning, City Clerk
2