Broward County Commission Regular Meeting
Director's Name: Leonard Vialpando
Department: Environmental Protection Division: Choose a Division.
Information
Requested Action
title
MOTION TO ADOPT Resolution No. 2021-452, the title of which is as follows:
A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF BROWARD COUNTY, FLORIDA JOINING THE ICLEI - LOCAL GOVERNMENTS FOR SUSTAINABILITY USA'S ("ILCEI USA'S") ICLEI150 RACE TO ZERO; COMMITTING TO PARTICIPATE IN THE REQUIRED RACE TO ZERO ACTIVITIES; AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO SIGN THE ICLEI150 COMMITMENT FORM; AUTHORIZING THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR TO COMMIT SUFFICIENT STAFF TIME AND RESOURCES TO CARRY OUT RACE TO ZERO ACTIVITIES; AND PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
(Sponsored by Senator Nan H. Rich,
and Cosponsored by Commissioner Beam Furr)
body
Why Action is Necessary
Formal Board approval is necessary for the adoption of a Resolution.
What Action Accomplishes
Enables adoption of the above Resolution.
Is this Action Goal Related
Yes
Previous Action Taken
None taken.
Summary Explanation/Background
THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND GROWTH MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT AND THE BROWARD COUNTY CLIMATE CHANGE TASK FORCE RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THE ABOVE MOTION.
This item supports the County Commission’s Value: Encouraging investments in renewable energy, sustainable practices and environmental protection; and the Goal to: Seek funding for, implement policies and pursue projects promoting, the use of alternative energies and sustainable practices.
On August 9, 2021, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released the Working Group I contribution to the Sixth Assessment Report - Climate Change 2021: The Physical Science Basis (AR6 Report). Headline statements from the Summary for Policy Makers emphasize that rapid climate change has begun (Exhibit 3), causing severe, unprecedented changes across climate systems, affecting weather and climate extremes in every region. These changes are poised to inflict catastrophic, irreparable effects on the planet unless immediate, drastic action is taken.
The AR6 Report follows the IPCC’s 2018 Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5°C, which was endorsed by the County Commission in a commitment to support international efforts to reduce emissions and constrain warming to no more than 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels (December 11, 2018; Agenda Item 43). The call for global action to keep warming this target is underscored by the AR6 Working Group 1 report, which presents a stark contrast in climate futures with 1.5°C vs. 2.0°C of warming and notes that swift emissions cuts to hold warming to 1.5°C would minimize climate impacts within the course of current adaptation planning horizons.
The AR6 Report also reveals that with 2,390 gigatons of carbon dioxide (C02) released to date since 1850, global surface temperature has increased by ~1.1°C. The AR6 Working Group I report estimates that each additional 1,000 gigatons of CO2 emitted will increase global warming by another 0.5°C. Therefore, humanity can only afford to add 300 gigatons of emissions before the 1.5°C threshold is reached, and even then, with only an 83% probability of holding temperature to this level. At the rate of current emissions, we will add 300 gigatons to the atmosphere over the next 8 years. As such, it is imperative that all governments, institutions, industries, and enterprises collectively commit and aggressively invest to cut CO2 and other GHG emissions to zero as soon as possible. A global net-zero strategy initiated today and fully implemented by 2050 is widely understood to be the last, best hope for capping climate change impacts to the 1.5°C threshold.
Therefore, while Broward County has had a GHG reduction goal of 80% below 2007 levels by 2050 for many years and has developed multiple iterations of the Broward County Climate Change Action Plan, while also contributing to two Compact Regional Climate Change Action Plans, and implemented numerous energy conservation and renewable energy strategies, the worsening trajectory of the climate emergency and compounding damage requires the County to adopt a more ambitious goal: net zero by 2050.
The term “net-zero emissions” recognizes that emissions from some industries and activities (cement and steel production, airplane fuel, etc.) may not be zero-carbon until later than 2050, due to technological difficulties or exorbitant current costs. Other emission sources will therefore need to go negative (i.e., capture carbon from the atmosphere and lock it up somehow), to compensate for the activities that still require carbon emissions until alternatives are available. However, the “net-zero” concept should not be seen as giving license to fossil-fuel companies and carbon-intensive industries that they can continue their current practices unabated and bank on atmospheric carbon-removal strategies (which do not yet exist at scale) to cancel out their ongoing emissions. Full decarbonization is the goal, with carbon-sequestration technologies as a temporary bridge for activities that are more difficult to convert to carbon-free operation.
At the international level, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)-the UN treaty and associated bodies addressing climate change-and many other partners established a global Race to Zero to rally support for net-zero goals and action by non-state actors, including local and regional governments. In the US, the American branch of ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability, a global alliance of climate- and sustainability-focused local governments of which Broward County has been a longstanding member, has launched the ICLEI150, seeking 150 local governments to sign onto the Race to Zero ahead of the 26th meeting of the Conference of Parties (COP26) to the UNFCCC in November 2021 and commit to net-zero plans and action.
By joining the ILCEI150 and the Race to Zero, Broward County will be endorsing the following principles (taken from the ICLEI150 Commitment Form, Exhibit 2):
1. We recognize the global climate emergency.
2. We are committed to keeping global heating below the 1.5°Celsius goal of the Paris Agreement.
3. We are committed to putting inclusive climate action at the center of all urban decision-making, to create thriving and equitable communities for everyone.
4. We invite our partners - political leaders, CEOs, trade unions, investors, and civil society - to join us in recognizing the global climate emergency and help us deliver on science-based action to overcome it.
Specifically, the County will commit to pursue:
• A 2050 net-zero GHG emissions reduction goal.
• A 2030 interim GHG emissions reduction goal (likely ~50%, but the precise figure can be determined as part of the net-zero planning process).
• Planning the actions necessary to achieve both the 2030 and 2050 targets (within 12 months of joining).
• Taking high-impact actions to achieve the goals, starting in 2021.
• Publish its actions to the global Race to Zero platform by 2022.
• Assignment of staff to engage with ICLEI for technical and implementation support (at no cost to County).
• 15 minutes per month amplifying the Race to Zero in various ways.
• Video and written statements regarding our support for the Race to Zero.
In developing a County strategy for reaching net-zero emissions within County operations and throughout the community, staff intends to request to engage a consulting firm to provide in-depth analyses and work closely with County staff in developing an actionable net-zero plan with concrete metrics and timelines for implementation and investment.
Many local governments in Florida have already joined the Race to Zero, including Miami-Dade County, Hallandale Beach, West Palm Beach, Miami, Miami Beach, Boynton Beach, St. Petersburg, Tampa, Orlando, and Cape Canaveral. Other cities and counties with net-zero goals include New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, the District of Columbia, San Francisco, San Jose, Seattle, San Antonio, Houston, Boston, Honolulu, New Orleans, Montgomery County (MD), and Travis County (TX).
By taking this action, Broward County will contribute to the global campaign to ensure that the COP26 Meeting in November 2021 produces an even stronger global agreement to combat the climate emergency. The County also hopes to encourage other tribal and local governments within the county and region to join the Race to Zero. The concept will be presented at the Broward Leaders Resilience Roundtable scheduled for Friday, October 1, 2021, and shared with Southeast Florida Regional Climate Change Compact partners.
Source of Additional Information
Dr. Jennifer Jurado, Chief Resilience Officer and Deputy Director, Environmental Protection & Growth Management Department, (954) 519-1464
Fiscal Impact
Fiscal Impact/Cost Summary
There is no fiscal impact associated with the adoption of this Resolution.