At their meeting on Tuesday, September 6, the Mill Valley City Council adopted a Climate Emergency Resolution.
Mill Valley continues to be a leader in its sustainability efforts and was an early supporter in actively working to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) within the community. In 2007, City Council adopted a set of resolutions to participate in the Cities for Climate Protection Campaign, pledging to monitor its GHG emissions annually and established GHG targets to reduce government-related emissions.
Based on this pledge, the City has diligently worked to reduce government-related emissions 20% and community-related emissions 15% by the year 2020 (below the baseline emissions levels documented in 2005) through the implementation of various programs related to energy conservation, transportation infrastructure improvements, electric vehicle purchases, solid waste reduction measures, water and wastewater strategies and climate adaptation planning. The adoption of these resolutions also has led to other collaboration efforts, including state-wide emission reduction targets; climate action planning and county-wide sustainability collaboration through Marin Climate and Energy Partnership.
In working towards its GHG targets, staff has successfully achieved emission reduction targets with community-related GHG emissions down 35% and government-related emissions are down 15% since the year 2005. The City has also received several awards, including the Institute of Local Governments full Beacon Award in 2018, for its achievements in community greenhouse gas reductions, agency greenhouse gas reductions, energy savings, and sustainability best practices. New emissions reduction targets will be established in the Climate Action Plan update, which will be presented to the community and City Council later this year.
The adopted resolution acknowledged and declared a climate emergency in Mill Valley. The City’s Climate Action Task Force also expressed support for City Council’s adoption of such a resolution.
Cities and organizations around the world, and locally within our county, have signed petitions and adopted resolutions supporting a declaration of climate emergency, including most cities and towns in Marin County. Adoption of the resolution endorses the declaration and reinforce the City’s commitment to reduce GHG emissions and to educate the community about the climate emergency. Local adoption may inspire other communities, states, and the federal government to follow. The declaration provides many reasons for the need for immediate action and references the City’s commitment to adopting emission targets through its Climate Action Plan (currently in progress and anticipated to come to Council later this year). The adopted resolution commits to providing the community and City Council with information and directing funds towards climate change mitigation work, when possible.
Learn more about the City's Sustainability Efforts