2021013-04b: Supporting Austin Climate Equity Plan — original pdf

Recommendation

Recommendation 20201013-04b Supporting the Austin Climate Equity Plan Community Development Commission October 13, 2020 WHEREAS, the City Council passed Resolution No. 20150604-048 adopting the 2015 Austin Community Climate Plan; and WHEREAS, the 2015 Austin Community Climate Plan includes a schedule for reporting and updates, with a full plan revision in 2020; and WHEREAS, the Joint Sustainability Committee, the Office of Sustainability and the Equity Office worked collaboratively to assemble a diverse team of Austin community members and an equitable process for engaging the community to develop the Austin Climate Equity Plan, and update to the Austin Community Climate Plan; and WHEREAS, the harmful effects of climate change, including floods, droughts, heat waves and wildfires, are worsening in the Austin area and around the world; and WHEREAS, low-income communities and communities of color in Austin are the most impacted by extreme weather and pollution despite having contributed least to the drivers of climate change and pollution; and WHEREAS, harmful land use and the refusal to create or enforce real environmental regulations continue to disproportionately expose communities of color to environmental harms, leading to unjust quality of life outcomes both historically and today; and WHEREAS, low-income communities and communities of color must be prioritized to receive the disproportionate benefits of the transition to a pollution-free society to remedy disproportionate harm done historically and presently; and WHEREAS, if we design and implement programs to serve low-income communities and communities of color, we will positively impact all residents in the Austin area; and WHEREAS, the Austin Climate Equity Plan was developed as an intentionally anti-racist plan that aims to be a step toward achieving racial equity in the Austin community; and WHEREAS, successful implementation of the Austin Climate Equity Plan will depend on focused attention from the City Council and other City leadership, adequate funding, guidance from community advisory bodies and continued engagement with the broader Austin community; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION supports the JOINT SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN’s recommendation that the Austin City Council move as quickly as possible to: 1. Adopt the Austin Climate Equity Plan, 2. Direct the city manager to work with the Office of Sustainability, Equity Office, and a working group of Austin residents to develop implementation plans, with budgets, schedules, leaders, and participants identified, to fully implement the Austin Climate Equity Plan to be presented as part of the fiscal year 2021/2022 budget; 3. Create a new Council Committee on Environmental Justice to provide leadership on these topics and to oversee implementation of and future updates to the Austin Climate Equity Plan. Date of Approval: October 13, 2020 Record of the vote: Unanimous on a 9–0 vote Attest:____________________________________ CDC Chair, Amit Motwani