20201028-2A: JSC Austin Climate Equity Plan and support for bold actions — original pdf

Recommendation

COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION Recommendation 20201028-2A –Austin Climate Equity Plan and support for bold actions JOINT SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE Seconded By: Commissioner Carroll Date: 10/28/2020 Subject: Community Climate Plan Bold Actions Motioned By: Commissioner White Recommendation Our community has built meaningful momentum, but it is critical that we maintain our sense of urgency and commitment. The 2030 Austin Resource, Generation and Climate Protection Plan jump started the original climate plan. Policies such as Affordability Unlocked ordinance not only enabled emission reduction through compact footprints but also proactively addressed equity through affordable housing. Project Connect and related transit initiatives are essential to set up Austin Climate Equity Plan 2020 update for success. The JSC recommends that more bold actions such as the ones above are proposed and taken at an increasingly faster rate to truly move the needle and change our trajectory Description of Recommendation to Council • Support and promote Austin Climate Equity Plan 2020 • Empower City Manager and all city departments to put forth bold action proposals that put City of Austin on a more urgent path to net-zero by 2040 while proactively addressing equity • Leave playbook for the next Council to continue making Climate Equity Plan a top priority Rationale: While the original Community Climate Plan in 2015 to reach net-zero community-wide greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 was a bold action in and of itself, the recent scientific data from the 2019 UN Emissions Gap Report showed a stark reality that temperature has already increased 1.1°C and even the most ambitious national climate action plans today are far short of limiting 1.5°C increase. C40 Deadline 2020 Report provided a roadmap to tackle this increasing challenge with a more aggressive 2040 net-zero target. Even major community investment such as Project Connect will only reduce 5% of the total reduction goal at full realization. Record of the Vote: Motion to approve by Commissioner White, second by Commissioner Carroll. Motion passes: 9 approved, 0 opposed, 0 abstained, 3 absent. Date of Approval: October 28, 2020 Attest: [Staff or board member can sign] Zach Baumer, Liaison 1 of 1 Zach Baumer