RESOLUTION NO. 88-21
RESOLUTION TO BEGIN A PLANNING PROCESS TO ESTABLISH A VISION AND
IDENTIFY ACTIONS TO IMPLEMENT A LOCAL GREEN-BLUE NEW DEAL THAT WILL PROVIDE 215 CENTURY JOBS FOR OUR RICHMOND COMMUNITY WHEREAS, on October 2018 United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report states that global net human-caused emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) would need to fall by about 45 percent from 2010 levels by 2030, reaching 'net zero' around 2050; and
WHEREAS, the 2018 IPCC report also states that every bit of warming matters, so every fraction of a degree less of warming will save lives and pay dividends across the world's economies; and
WHEREAS, available climate data indicates that the world - including California and the Bay Area - is already experiencing severe impacts from climate change, including more ntense storms, unprecedented flooding, and more frequent and longer-burning wildfires wit redictions of much worse to come; an
WHEREAS, an inadequate response to climate change will increase the risk of economic and environmental disruptions, such as more severe storms, longer and hotter heat waves, worsening flood and drought cycles, growing invasive species and insect problems, accelerated species extinction rates, rising sea levels, increased wildfires, and an increase in environmental migration; and
WHEREAS, an insufficient response to the climate brings threats to human life, human health, our food supply, and other impacts to current inhabitants of the planet and future generations; and
WHEREAS, the climate crisis exacerbates already-existing systemic injustices along racial, regional, social, and economic lines; and
WHEREAS, the climate crisis highlights growing income inequality and a decline in labor standards in the United States; and
WHEREAS, Richmond has done some exemplary work thus far in researching and setting up initial goals and policies for addressing climate change and climate justice such as:
: In 20n9, Richmond complated its greenhouse gas emissions inventory.
In April 2012, approving the Richmond General Plan 2030 which includes elements on Community Health and Wellness, Energy and Climate Change, and Conservation, Natural Resources and Open Space.
• On October 26, 2016, the Richmond City Council adopted the Richmond Climate Action Plan (CAP) as a roadmap for how the City will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and prepare for the impacts of climate change on public health, infrastructure, ecosystems, and public spaces in our community.
• On April 20, 2021, the Richmond City Council adopted a resolution to take action to mitigate the potential impacts of sea level rise by using all new scientific information to inform and incorporate into the Climate Action Plan.
WHEREAS, Richmond has 32 miles of SF Bay shoreline which needs to be protected as a "living shoreline" to connect the land and water in order to stabilize the shoreline, reduce erosion, and provide ecosystem services, like valuable habitat, that enhances coastal resilience; and
WHEREAS, our miles of SF Bay shoreline can and should be utilized to develop jobs for our community in line with a sustainable environment and economy; and Reso. No. 88-21
WHEREAS, various community groups have worked diligently in recent years and going back decades to address environmental justice as well as climate crisis issues, most notably as to its impact on our frontline, largely BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Color) and low-income populations; and
WHEREAS, A "Green New Deal" is a program of investments in equitable clean- energy jobs and infrastructure, transforming and transitioning not just the energy sector, but the entire economy. The general goals include:
• Energy Goals: A complete conversion to a 100% renewable energy system for both electricity and transport by 2030, partnered with the full de-carbonization of the economy • Five Zeros: A zero carbon grid, zero carbon transportation, zero carbon buildings, zero waste and zero wasted water, as well as a just transition for fossil fuel workers, equitable housing and environmental justice for all.
WHEREAS, a Green New Deal must incorporate key sectors of the Blue Economy in WHEREAS, the World Bank definition of the "Blue Economy" defines it as the "sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth, improved livelihoods, and jobs while preserving the health of ocean ecosystems."
WHEREAS, the Blue Economy is not synonymous with all economic activity that occurs on coastlines and shorelines or any use of water resources, nor simply technological innovation involving water-based industries. The Blue Economy represents a narrower band of economic activity that is restorative to ocean and shoreline ecosystems and promotes broad- based economic opportunity including "blue jobs"; and
WHEREAS, our diverse working class residents in Richmond have suffered greatly over the last decade due to the Great Recession and the COVID-19 era in terms of displacement, health impact and financial instability; and
WHEREAS, Richmond would benefit greatly from a working class-rooted Green-Blue New Deal that will advance quality of life for our diverse community with high-paying green jobs and blue jobs, while also playing a role in creating a more sustainable planet; and WHEREAS, the general goals of a Richmond Green-Blue New Deal should include:
• Net-zero greenhouse gas emissions through a fair and just transition for frontline communities and workers;
• Thousands of good, high-wage jobs and ensure prosperity and economic security for all;
• Investments in infrastructure, bringing in clean industries, and advancing our city to sustainably meet the challenges of the 21st century;
• Clean air and water, climate resiliency, a resilient shoreline, sustainable livelihoods, and access to nature for all for generations to come; and • Justice and equity for frontline communities by repairing current and historic harms; and
WHEREAS, the Richmond City Council has already stated its support for and asked staff to research a just transition to move away from a fossil fuel based economy and toward a sustainable economy with sustainable jobs; and
WHEREAS, a just transition is a sector-, city-, region- or economy-wide process that produces the plans, policies and investments so that everyone has social protection; all jobs are decent; emissions are low or at zero; poverty is eliminated, and communities are thriving and resilient.
WHEREAS, Richmond is home to a major oil refinery that has polluted our community and caused harm through fires, explosions, oil spills, and other risks; and Reso. No. 88-21
WHEREAS, it is important to start negotiating with Chevron (the major oil refinery in Richmond) about reducing its refining capacity (and thereby its greenhouse gas emissions) in a phased approach over a period of years with community compensation for harm done over the past 100+ years; and
WHEREAS, Richmond has brought in a cluster of clean tech businesses over the last decade, but needs to further expand on this effort and build a much more diversified local economy by encouraging more sustainability-oriented businesses, including worker-owned co- ops, to establish themselves in Richmond to enhance a local green and blue economy - thus reducing dependency on the fossil fuel industry in our city; and BE IT RESOLVED that the City of Richmond will facilitate a comprehensive public engagement process, with the assistance of an environmental planning consultant (and any needed sub-contractors) to co-create the plan for our community to achieve a Green-Blue New Deal. Such a plan will:
• Draft a principled and practical concrete implantation plan (including both low-hanging fruit and long-term projects) to address the climate crisis with a multi-year approach to new job creation.
• Maintain a responsibility to deliver environmental justice and equity through an inclusive economy, producing results at the community level, guided by communities themselves. • Provide a pathway to the green and blue economies, creating pipelines to good paying, sustainable jobs with labor and union-friendly agreements, such as PLAs and a just transition as we enter an era of changing work trends.
• Provide ideas for public investment in good jobs for our residents, as well as policy ideas for advancing the latest sustainability practices and regulation of polluting industries, as we begin to shift away from dependency on the fossil fuel industry so that no workers and no communities are left behind.
• Demonstrate a resolve to demonstrate the art of the possible and lead the way, walking the walk and using our people and our budget to drive change.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that such a planning process will include reaching out to:
: Experts, authors and other specialists on the Green New Deal and the Blue New Deal.
The overall Richmond community and stakeholders through community meetings, town hall gatherings, workshops, webinars and other outreach methods. Stakeholder meetings should include (but not be limited to) Richmond environmental justice and environmental health organizations, climate change organizations, shoreline groups, neighborhood councils, unions (public sector and private sector, the business community, and non- BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that this planning process should be approximately a one (1) year to 18-month process with study session updates presented to the City Council every 6 months to update the Council and the public at large. Given the urgency of the climate crisis, these updates should also advise the Council on potential implementation of certain recommendations, even prior to the end of the planning process. *******************
Reso. No. 88-21
I certify that the foregoing resolution was passed and adopted by the City Council of the City of Richmond at a regular meeting thereof held July 6, 2021, by the following vote:
AYES: Councilmembers Jimenez, Martinez, McLaughlin, Willis, and Vice Mayor Johnson III.
NOES: Councilmember Bates and Mayor Butt.
ABSTENTIONS: None.
ABSENT: None.
PAMELA CHRISTIAN
CLERK OF THE CITY OF RICHMOND
(SEAL)
Approved:
THOMAS K. BUTT
Mayor
Approved as to form:
TERESA STRICKER
City Attorney
State of California
County of Contra Costa
City of Richmond
I certify that the foregoing is a true copy of Resolution No. 88-21, finally passed and adopted by the City Council of the City of Richmond at a regular meeting held on July 6, 2021.
Pamela Chust
Pamela Christian, Clerk of the City of Richmond
Reso. No. 88-21