RESOLUTION NO. 170484
Reaffirming Kansas City’s commitment to take action to reduce greenhouse gas
emissions and mitigate the impacts of climate change notwithstanding any withdrawal by
the United States from the Paris Climate Agreement and directing the City Clerk to
transmit copies of this resolution to other local, state, and national leaders.
WHEREAS, the City of Kansas City, Missouri (the “City”), desires to protect and
enhance the quality of life for all those who currently live, work, learn and play in our
community, as well as for our children and grandchildren; and
WHEREAS, there is scientific consensus regarding the reality of climate change
and that human activity, specifically the combustion of fossil fuels that result in
greenhouse gas emissions, is an important driver; and
WHEREAS, climate change has been widely recognized by government, business
and academic leaders as a worldwide threat with the potential to harm our economy,
safety, and public health; and
WHEREAS, members of our community and others are already feeling the effects
of climate change through increased temperatures, more extreme weather events, and
other disruptions that affect our residents, economy, and way of life; and
WHEREAS, climate change impacts all residents and businesses, but
communities that already face socioeconomic and health inequities, including our youth,
the elderly, minority populations, and other low- income communities, will be the most
severely impacted and require an investment in resilience that is proportionate to the
threat; and
WHEREAS, actions that reduce climate pollution also have the potential to
improve air quality, public health, energy security, social equity, our natural environment,
and the quality of life for our residents; and
WHEREAS, taking steps to increase energy efficiency and resilience can attract
jobs and economic development opportunities to our community, increasing our longterm economic competitiveness and wealth; and
WHEREAS, the City has a legacy of demonstrated leadership against the threat of
climate change; and
WHEREAS, the City adopted Kansas City’s Climate Protection Plan in July of
2008, outlining steps the City has committed to take in partnership with others to achieve
our climate action goals; and
WHEREAS, the City remains committed to its adopted goals of reducing
greenhouse gas emissions, both in municipal operations and citywide, 30% below year

 RESOLUTION NO. 170484
2000 levels by 2020, as well as an aspirational goal of reducing emissions 80% below
year 2000 levels by 2050; and
WHEREAS, the City has already taken many important actions to reduce
greenhouse gas emissions and enhance the quality of life in our community, including
energy efficiency improvements in municipal operations, installing solar panels on the
rooftops of municipal buildings, launching a new streetcar, converting much of the City’s
municipal fleet away from continued use of gasoline and diesel fuel, hosting electric
vehicle charging stations on City property, promoting neighborhood food production and
urban agriculture, and incorporating green infrastructure into the City’s Smart Sewer
initiative; and
WHEREAS, the City was one of the first ten (10) cities in the U.S. to join the City
Energy Project to promote benchmarking and energy efficiency improvements in public
and private sector buildings across the City; and
WHEREAS, the City climbed eight (8) positions in the American Council for an
Energy Efficient Economy’s 2017 City Energy Efficiency Scorecard, up to 19th in the
rankings of U.S. cities, and was highlighted as one of the most improved cities in the
U.S.; and
WHEREAS, three hundred twenty- five (325) mayors representing more than 62
million Americans, including Mayor Sly James, have recently re-affirmed their cities’
commitments to climate action; and
WHEREAS, the City actively collaborates with other local governments
throughout our region, state, nation, and the world to learn from each other and identify
opportunities to take action on climate change while simultaneously creating measurable
benefits in our communities; and
WHEREAS, one hundred ninety-five (195) countries, including the United States,
vowed to address climate change in agreements reached in Paris, France, in December of
2015 (the “Paris Climate Agreement”); and
WHEREAS, on June 1, 2017, President Donald J. Trump announced his intent to
withdraw the United States from the Paris Climate Agreement; and
WHEREAS, the lack of any American participation undermines this critical
global effort to confront one of the greatest challenges facing our community and
communities all across the one planet we all share; and
WHEREAS, focused local leadership is critical in avoiding the most dangerous
and costly effects of climate change; and

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 RESOLUTION NO. 170484
WHEREAS, the reality of climate change is not a political issue; it is a challenge
to our societal consciousness that provides an opportunity for American cities to lead the
way; and
WHEREAS, the City will continue to lead; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF KANSAS CITY:
Section 1. That the City re-affirms its commitment to taking action to reduce
greenhouse gas emissions in alignment with the goals in its previously adopted Kansas
City Climate Protection Plan.
Section 2. That the City continues to support the principles of the Paris Climate
Agreement and the participation of the United States as a party to the Paris Climate
Agreement.
Section 3. That the City will continue to stand with other public and private
sector partners throughout the world to advance action in accordance with the goals
outlined in the Paris Climate Agreement.
Section 4. That the City Clerk is hereby directed to forward a copy of this
resolution to the members of the Missouri Congressional delegation, the Missouri
Municipal League, the Climate Mayors, the U.S. Conference of Mayors, and the National
League of Cities.
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