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RESOLUTION IN RESPONSE TO THE ANNOUNCED UNITED STATES WITHDRAWAL FROM THE PARIS CLIMATE AGREEMENT WHEREAS, the City of Charlottesville desires to protect and enhance quality of life for all those who live, work, learn and play in our community, as well as for our children and grandchildren; and WHE REAS, there is scientific consensus regarding the reality of climate change and the recognition that human activity, especially the combustion of fossil fuels that create greenhouse gases, is an important driver of climate change; and WHE REAS, climate change has been widely recognized by government, business, academic, and other community leaders as a worldwide threat with the potential to harm our economy, safety, public health, and quality of life; and WHE REAS, climate change affects all residents and businesses, but communities that already face socioeconomic and health inequities will be most severely impacted and such communities therefore require an investment in resilience that is proportionate to these more severe risks; and WHE RE AS , addressing energy efficiency and climate change will promote a cleaner environment, a more prosperous economy by attracting jobs and positive economic development, increased comfort and health in homes, and a higher quality of life; and WHE REAS, it is local and state governments, along with businesses and academic institutions, are primarily responsible for the dramatic decrease in greenhouse gases in recent years; and WHE REAS, the City of Charlottesville has committed to promoting energy efficiency, renewable energy, and climate change programs community-wide and within its own organization; and WHE REAS, the City of Charlottesville has a legacy of climate protection leadership (endorsed the US Mayors Climate Protection Agreement in 2006, published the first community GHG Emissions Inventory Report in 2008, formally collaborated with neighboring partners in promoting energy efficiency and climate change programs in 2009 and obtained critical grant funding to launch a local energy alliance, participated in the Local Climate Action Planning Process that was completed in 2011, issued an Emissions Inventory Update Report in 2012 which included a 10% community emissions reduction goal, competed in a national energy reduction competition in 2015 and 2016, and continues to deliver an active Climate Protection Program); and WHE REAS, the City of Charlottesville has already taken a variety of important actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in our community (intensive efficiency improvements in municipal buildings, incentive and assistance programs for resource efficiency, partnering on a series of Solarize campaigns, and expanded public transportation system, a robust urban forest management program, the 2015 Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan, the 2016 Streets That Work guidelines, a growing portfolio of green infrastructure projects and efforts, investment in and promotion of renewable energy technology, partnership with and support of community clean energy nonprofits and businesses); and