HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 06-05-2018 8-h - Joining the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy
ORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: June 5, 2018
Action Agenda
Item No. 8-h
SUBJECT: Joining the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy
DEPARTMENT: Asset Management Services
ATTACHMENT(S):
1) Orange County’s Proposed Letter of
Commitment to the Global Covenant of Mayors
for Climate and Energy
2) Fact Sheet on the Global Covenant of Mayors
for Climate & Energy
INFORMATION CONTACT:
Brennan Bouma, Sustainability
Coordinator, (919) 245-2626
PURPOSE: To authorize the Chair to sign a letter indicating Orange County’s commitment to
the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy as requested by the Orange County
Commission for the Environment.
BACKGROUND: In June 2017, following the federal government’s decision to withdraw from
the international Paris Climate Agreement, the Board of Orange County Commissioners
resolved to uphold the Agreement. This established a goal for Orange County to reduce
greenhouse gas emissions by 28% by 2025 based on 2005 levels. That resolution, and the set
of climate and energy actions it implies, was further strengthened by Orange County’s
commitment in September 2017 to move to a 100% renewable energy economy.
In order to meet these goals, a first logical step is to update the County’s original 2005
Greenhouse Gas Inventory and to begin the process of creating a climate, resilience, and
renewables action plan. Orange County is not alone in prioritizing the need for thoughtful actions
to both combat and prepare for the worst impacts of climate change, and there are now
standard processes, models, and tools that can be used to plan the County’s next steps and
track its progress transparently.
In parallel with setting these goals, the Orange County Board of Commissioners and Manager
approved funding in FY 2017-18 for Orange County’s portion of the Triangle Regional
Resilience Assessment, which is currently nearing completion. Once complete, this assessment
will identify stressors, both climate-related (e.g. storm events, extreme heat) and non-climate
related (e.g. population growth, affordable housing), and the vulnerabilities of certain regional
assets to those stressors. This will inform local planning and action to increase Orange
County’s resilience in a time of rapid change.
The Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy
The Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy (hereafter “Covenant”) assists more than
7,100 local governments worldwide in their transition to a low-carbon economy, and
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demonstrates their global impact. It formally brings together the world’s two primary climate
action initiatives of cities: the US Compact of Mayors and the EU Covenant of Mayors.
Signatories of the Covenant gain access to a package of tools, protocols, and technical
assistance at no cost. While the name of this agreement includes the term “Mayors”, it is open
to all units of local government, including counties.
On April 9, 2018 the Sustainability Coordinator proposed and the Orange County Commission
for the Environment (CFE) unanimously resolved to support a request to the Board of Orange
County Commissioners to sign on to the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy.
Once the County has joined the Covenant, the top priority of the CFE’s Air and Energy
Committee for the 2018-2019 fiscal year will be to assist the Sustainability Coordinator in
completing a greenhouse gas inventory and beginning the required climate action and resilience
planning.
Orange County would be the first county in North Carolina to sign onto the Covenant, and only
the second local government to sign on after the City of Charlotte.
Signatories of the Covenant agree to take the following steps, all of which are already underway
thanks to the leadership of the Board of Orange County Commissioners:
Commitment of Covenant
Signatories
Current Orange County Progress
Complete the first annual community-
scale greenhouse gas (GHG) emission
inventory and report (within 1-year)
The Sustainability Coordinator is currently engaging
with a volunteer to collect the appropriate data to
estimate emissions following the U.S. Community
Protocol. Using the tools provided through signing the
Covenant, this work should be completed in the Fall of
2018.
Assess climate hazards and
vulnerabilities (within 2 years)
The Triangle Regional Resilience Assessment will be
completed in draft form by the end of June 2018. The
assessment will be finalized after local review among
the six partner governments. This process may take
six months.
Ambitious, measurable and time-bound
target(s) to reduce/limit greenhouse
gas emissions (within 2 years)
Greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals were set
in June of 2017 with the adoption of the resolution to
uphold the Paris Climate Agreement: 28% emissions
reduction by 2025.
Ambitious adaptation vision and goals,
based on quantified scientific evidence
when possible, to increase local
resilience to climate change (within 2
years)
The Paris Climate Agreement also addresses
adaptation to the impacts of climate change by
establishing a goal of “enhancing adaptive capacity,
strengthening resilience and reducing vulnerability to
climate change, with a view to contributing to
sustainable development and ensuring an adequate
adaptation response in the context of the temperature
goal.”
Ambitious and just goal to improve
access to sustainable energy (within 2
years)
Orange County set an ambitious goal in September
2017 with the adoption of the resolution to transition to
100% renewable energy by 2050.
Plan(s) to address climate change
mitigation / low emission development,
While the resilience assessment and greenhouse gas
emissions inventories are being completed, the
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climate resilience and adaptation, and
access to sustainable energy, including
provisions for regular (annual or
biennial) progress reports. (within 3
years)
Sustainability Coordinator has been collecting model
plans and best practices for climate action, resilience
and renewable energy plans. These include a fossil
fuel replacement plan specific to North Carolina called
the Clean Path 2025. These will be used to inform the
future planning in these areas that Orange County will
need in order to reach its adopted goals. Several well-
informed County residents are prepared to support the
County’s planning efforts.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no cost associated with joining the Global Covenant of Mayors
for Climate and Energy. The free access the County would gain to the analysis and planning
tools provided to Covenant signatories is valued at $1,750 per year for local governments up to
200,000 in population.
Orange County will remain in good standing in the Covenant through creating and adopting a
plan or plans over the next 3 years to illustrate the path that will be taken to reach the goals on
renewable energy, climate change mitigation, and climate resilience/adaptation. These planning
activities may be recommended for incorporation into future County capital investment plans
and operating budgets as necessary.
SOCIAL JUSTICE IMPACT: The following Orange County Social Justice Goal is applicable to
this agenda item:
• GOAL: ESTABLISH SUSTAINABLE AND EQUITABLE LAND-USE AND
ENVIRONMENTAL POLICIES
The fair treatment and meaningful involvement of people of all races, cultures, incomes
and educational levels with respect to the development and enforcement of
environmental laws, regulations, policies, and decisions. Fair treatment means that no
group of people should bear a disproportionate share of the negative environmental
consequences resulting from industrial, governmental and commercial operations or
policies.
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board authorize the Chair to sign
the attached proposed letter indicating Orange County’s commitment to the Global Covenant of
Mayors for Climate and Energy.
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Attachment 1
June 5th, 2018
www.globalcovenantofmayors.com
Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy
Commitment of
Orange County, North Carolina
United States of America
I, Mark Dorosin, Chair of the Board of Orange County Commissioners, on behalf of the residents of
Orange County, commit to the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy, joining thousands of
other cities and local governments around the world currently engaged in climate leadership.
The Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy envisions a world where committed mayors and
local governments – in alliance with partners – accelerate ambitious, measurable climate and energy
initiatives that lead to an inclusive, just, low-emission and climate resilient future, helping to meet and
exceed the Paris Agreement objectives.
Whatever the size or location, the mayors and local leaders committed to the Global Covenant stand
ready to take concrete measures with long-term impact to tackle the interconnected challenges of
climate change mitigation, adaptation, and access to sustainable energy.
To implement this vision, Orange County pledges to implement policies and undertake measures to (i)
reduce / limit greenhouse gas emissions, (ii) prepare for the impacts of climate change, (iii) increase
access to sustainable energy, and (iv) track progress toward these objectives. Specifically, within no
more than three years of this commitment, we pledge to develop, formally adopt and report on the
following:
• A community-scale greenhouse gas (GHG) emission inventory;
• An assessment of climate hazards and vulnerabilities;
• Ambitious, measurable and time-bound target(s) to reduce/limit greenhouse gas emissions;
• Ambitious adaptation vision and goals, based on quantified scientific evidence when
possible, to increase local resilience to climate change;
• Ambitious and just goal to improve access to sustainable energy; and
• Plan(s) to address climate change mitigation / low emission development, climate resilience
and adaptation, and access to sustainable energy, including provisions for regular (annual or
biennial) progress reports.
The targets and action plans for mitigation / low emission development must be quantified and
consistent with or exceed relevant national commitments defined through the relevant UNFCCC
(Intended) Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC).
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www.globalcovenantofmayors.com 2
We acknowledge that there may be additional region- or country-specific commitments for us to adhere
to, agreed through our local membership networks or through our direct engagement with local Global
Covenant of Mayors partners.
Orange County acknowledges that continued membership in the Global Covenant of Mayors and
associated local chapters or “Regional Covenants” as established, is contingent on complying with the
above requirements within established timeframes.
Orange County
PO Box 8181
Hillsborough, North Carolina 27278
United States of America
http://www.co.orange.nc.us/
Population and Area: 144,946 Inhabitants, 398 square miles (1,031 km2)
Senior Elected Official: Mark Dorosin, Chair, Board of Orange County Commissioners
Contact: Brennan Bouma, Sustainability Coordinator, bbouma@orangecountync.gov, 919-245-2626
______________________________________________
Signed by Mark Dorosin, Chair, Board of Orange County Commissioners on June 5th, 2018
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The Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy
Fact Sheet
• Name: Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy
• Total number of cities committed: 7,100+
• Total number of countries represented: 119
• Total population represented: 600 million, or 8% of the global population
• Six months after cities were crucial voices in shaping and advocating for a strong Paris Climate Agreement in
December 2015, the world’s cities are today ready to announce that they will work together to take bold climate
action as part of a new first-of-its-kind, and now the world’s largest, global coalition of cities leading in the fight
against climate change.
• The new coalition, The Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy, formally brings together the Compact
of Mayors and the Covenant of Mayors, the world’s two primary initiatives of cities to assist cities and local
governments in their transition to a low-carbon economy, and demonstrate their global impact.
• Cities are significant in the implementation of the Paris Agreement. They represent major opportunities to
reduce climate emissions and enhance climate resilience. Cities innovate faster, and are less hampered by
politics than many nation states in their efforts to move towards clean energy and low carbon infrastructure.
And cities do even better when they collaborate.
• The creation of a single, global merged initiative to represent the impact of cities in this effort is a historic and
powerful response by the world’s urban leadership to the climate challenge. More and more cities across the
globe are heeding the call to act from fellow local leaders, and their response could not be more urgent as
nations begin the work of meeting the Paris climate goals.
• The joining of these two forces will create the broadest global coalition committed to climate leadership,
building on the commitment of 7,100+ cities from six continents and 119 countries representing more than 600
million residents, already participating in the EU Covenant of Mayors and the Compact of Mayors.
• The merged initiative will provide a central platform that brings together relevant data on cities' energy and
climate actions reported to the current EU Covenant platform and the platforms supporting the Compact of
Mayors (CDP Cities and the Carbonn Climate Registry), allowing to compare cities' and regions' achievements to
other cities and regions all around the world, and make them publicly available through a new Global Covenant
of Mayors for Climate & Energy website, to be launched by January 2017.
• Aligning efforts will allow for greater collaboration between cities across the world, bridging gaps and building
connections, as well as increasing funding to support and empower cities in their actions.
• The Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy will allow for comparison between cities' and regions'
achievements all around the world, as well as global aggregation of the impact of city actions.
• This historic merger will harness the convening powers and global resources behind both organisations, as well
as global city network partners, namely, C40, ICLEI, UCLG, and regional networks including Eurocities, Energy
Cities and Climate Alliance.
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• The Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy is an international coalition of local and regional
authorities with a shared long-term vision of promoting and supporting voluntary action to combat climate
change and move to a low-carbon society, based on the following core principles:
o Local Governments are Key Contributors: The Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy works to
organize and mobilize local, regional and state governments to be active contributors to a global climate
solution.
o City Networks as Critical Partners: Local and global city networks are core partners, serving as the
primary support for participating cities or regions.
o A Robust Solution Agenda: Focusing on those sectors where cities have the greatest impact, the Global
Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy supports ambitious, locally relevant solutions, captured
through strategic action plans that are registered, implemented and monitored and publicly available.
o Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Fostering Local Climate Resilience: The Global Covenant of
Mayors for Climate & Energy emphasizes the importance of climate mitigation and adaptation, as well
as universal access to energy.
• The Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy will continue to galvanize cities and local governments in
setting more ambitious climate reduction goals, taking accelerated action to meet those objectives, and
measuring their progress.
• This single initiative will have a broader reach and impact on more cities around the world. It will increase
efforts to build even greater momentum for city-level climate action, and provide greater clarity for cities and
ensure more consistent and comparable data – giving investors the ability to see that the actions cities have
been taking are having lasting, verifiable, and most importantly, investable impact.
Mission and Logistics of The Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy
• Cities participating in this initiative commit to targets that will eventually be more ambitious than those of their
respective national government, as defined through Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris
Climate Agreement. For those cities that have already made commitments through either the Covenant or the
Compact, current commitments will be honored for a period of at least 2 years.
• The merged effort will establish a Board of Directors, co-Chaired by the UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for
Cities and Climate Change Michael R. Bloomberg and European Commission Vice President Maroš Šefčovič. The
remaining seats will be held by global mayors representing both the full reach of the world’s regions as well as
global networks of cities. With the help of a global Secretariat, the board will set, approve and monitor strategic
direction and priorities to coordinate and support the work of the cities across multiple regions, through
regional “Covenants” or facilitate their setting up where these do not yet exist.
• The new initiative will include an advisory group of global financial institutions to ensure that cities are attractive
for investors, as well as an advisory group of global and regional city networks. This group should ensure
connectivity to international and local efforts, to connect technical assistance and engagement to the broader
global context.
• On June 23, a transition will begin to manage all activities of this coalition under the guidance of the new Board,
supported by a Global Secretariat. A “Founders’ Council,” including representatives from global city networks
and the European Commission will provide recommendations on strategic and technical issues for the Board.
The new initiative will go “live” by January 1, 2017. The months leading up to January 1 will be used to engage in
a dialogue with cities and their networks.
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ABOUT THE COMPACT OF MAYORS:
• Launched in 2014 at the Secretary-General’s Climate Summit by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and Michael
R. Bloomberg, UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Cities and Climate Change, and activated under the
leadership of the global city networks – C40 (led by Mayor Paes of Rio), ICLEI (led by Mayor Park of Seoul) and
UCLG (led by Mayors Topbas of Istanbul and Hidalgo of Paris), the Compact of Mayors now has commitments
from more than 512 cities from 6 continents and 94 countries representing over 433 million people or 5.98% of
the global population.
ABOUT THE COVENANT OF MAYORS:
• Created by the European Commission in 2008 after the adoption of the 2020 EU Climate and Energy Package,
the EU Covenant of Mayors puts cities and regions at the forefront of climate action representing more than
6,800 cities in 57 countries. Signatories pledge to reduce CO2 emissions by at least 40% by 2030, to adopt an
integrated approach to tackling mitigation and adaptation to climate change, and to tackle energy access.
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