https://eservice.pwcgov.org/documents/bocs/agendas/2020/1117/13-D.pdf
November 17, 2020
Res. No. 20-773
RE: ENDORSE – REGIONAL CLIMATE MITIGATION AND RESILIENCY GOALS
ACTION: APPROVED
WHEREAS, in 2019, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change updated its
guidance to recognize that the world is already experiencing the impacts of global warming and that to avoid the most severe climate impacts, greenhouse gas emissions must be reduced by at least 45 percent from 2010 levels by 2030 and to carbon neutrality by 2050; and
WHEREAS, metropolitan Washington, to include Prince William County, is already
experiencing the impacts of a changing climate, including increases in temperature and sea-level rise and increased intensity and frequency of storms; and
WHEREAS, the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments’ (COG) Region
Forward Vision includes a sustainability goal that calls for a significant decrease in greenhouse gas emissions, with substantial reductions from the built environment and transportation sector; and
WHEREAS, the COG Board of Directors, in Resolution R60-08, adopted the National Capital Region Climate Change Report and its recommendations in 2008, including goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 10 percent below business as usual by 2012, 20 percent below the region’s 2005 baseline by 2020, and 80 percent below the 2005 baseline by 2050; and
WHEREAS, COG recognizes that educating the public about the risks from climate
change and the value of emission reduction and resiliency efforts is a critical action in addition to direct actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase resiliency; and
WHEREAS, on October 15, 2020, the COG Board of Directors, in Resolution R45-
2020, approved a new greenhouse gas emissions reduction goal for the region of a 50 percent reduction in GHG emissions below baseline 2005 emission levels, and making significant progress to be a Climate Resilient Region by 2030;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Prince William Board of County
Supervisors hereby endorses the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments’ interim climate mitigation goal of 50 percent greenhouse gas emission reductions below 2005 levels by 2030;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Prince William Board of County Supervisors
hereby endorses the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments’ climate resilience goals of becoming a Climate Ready Region and making significant progress to be a Climate Resilient Region by 2030;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Prince William Board of County Supervisors
hereby directs staff to incorporate into the Comprehensive Plan goals of 100% of Prince William County’s electricity to be from renewable sources by 2035, for Prince William County Government operations to achieve 100% renewable electricity by 2030, and for Prince William County Government to be 100% carbon neutral by 2050;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Prince William Board of County Supervisors
hereby directs staff to begin to work on recommendations for the creation of a public advisory body charged with advising on potential enhancements to the Community Energy Master Plan (CEMP) to achieve the goals of the above-stated Comprehensive Plan changes;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Prince William Board of County Supervisors
hereby reinforces the need to incorporate equity principles and environmental justice into the Community Energy Master Plan (CEMP) as well as the entire Comprehensive Plan.