HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 01-15-2008-3dORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: January 15, 2008
Action Agenda
Item No. ..3 --
SUBJECT: Proclamation Recognizing Climate Change Awareness Day
DEPARTMENT: BOCC
PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No
ATTACHMENT(S):
Proclamation
INFORMATION CONTACT:
- Commissioner Mike Nelson
- Donna Baker, Clerk to the
Orange County Board of
Commissioners
(919) 245-2130
PURPOSE: To consider a proclamation recognizing January 31, 2008 as Orange County
Climate Change Awareness Day.
BACKGROUND: The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) concludes that
many natural systems are being affected by regional climate changes, particularly temperature
increases and increasing evidence associates changes in physical and biological systems with
human activities. Potential impacts of climate change range from species extinction, to rising
sea levels, to increased frequency and severity of droughts and to potentially disastrous impacts
on the availability of food and water in many regions.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: None
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board approve the attached
proclamation recognizing January 31, 2008 as Orange County Climate Change Awareness Day.
ORANGE CO~TNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING
CLIMATE CHANGE AWARENESS DAY
WHEREAS, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) concludes that many natural
systems are being affected by regional climate changes, particularly temperature
increases; and,
WHEREAS, increasing evidence associates changes in physical and biological systems with human
activities; and,
WHEREAS, the potential impacts of climate change range from species extinction, to rising sea
levels, to increased frequency and severity of droughts and to potentially disastrous
impacts on the availability of food and water in many regions; and,
WHEREAS, in 2004, the United States emitted over 7 billion metric tons of greenhouse gases, 83% of
which was carbon dioxide; and,
WHEREAS, it is both the responsibility and the duty of those of us living today to leave the children
of the future a healthy global environment; and,
WHEREAS, if we, as a community and as a nation, are to reduce the risk oflarge-scale, irreversible,
worldwide damage due to climate change, then ambitious-and potentially costly-
policy solutions must be undertaken within a very compressed time frame;
NOW, THEREFORE, be it resolved that, the Orange County Board of Commissioners proclaims its
support for the students of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's efforts to
focus the community on the issues surrounding climate change on January 31, 2008 and
do hereby proclaim January 31, 2008 as Orange County Climate Change Awareness Day.
Further, the Board of Commissioners encourages all residents of Orange County to
actively engage in discussions or activities focusing on climate change and to take at least
one proactive step to reduce their own and their family's ecological footprint, for the sake
of the health and well being of future generations.
This the 15th day of January 2008.
Barry Jacobs, Chair
Orange County Board of Commissioners