HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 77 Offered January 9, 2008 Prefiled January 4, 2008 Commending the localities of the Commonwealth that have joined the "Cool Cities" and "Cool Counties" initiatives. ---------- Patron-- Plum ----------

WHEREAS, warmer temperatures and higher sea levels from global warming pose great risk of flooding to land and property, degradation of air quality, rising insurance costs, contamination of fresh water supplies, and the loss of critical wetland habitats, such as those areas adjacent to the Chesapeake Bay; and

WHEREAS, voluntary action to address climate change at the local level has progressed beyond that of our federal and state governments, and the regulatory risk borne in the Commonwealth by its industry and citizens is mitigated by the voluntarily adoption of climate-sensitive practices; and

WHEREAS, many localities throughout the nation, both large and small, are reducing global warming pollutants through programs that provide economic and quality of life benefits such as reducing energy bills, preserving green space, implementing better land use policies, improving air quality, promoting waste-to-energy programs, expanding transportation and work choices to reduce traffic congestion, and fostering more economic development and job creation through energy conservation and new technologies; and

WHEREAS, more than 700 cities have become "Cool Cities" and endorsed the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement, which commits cities to a reduction of global warming emissions to seven percent below 1990 levels by 2012 and calls for a federal limit on emissions; and

WHEREAS, on July 16, 2007, at the National Association of Counties Annual Conference in Richmond, Fairfax County helped lead the effort of 12 pioneering counties representing 17 million people to launch the "Cool Counties" initiative, which seeks to marshal the resources of all 3,066 counties across the nation to address the challenges climate change poses to our communities; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend the Counties of Arlington and Fairfax, the Cities of Alexandria, Charlottesville, Newport News, Richmond, Virginia Beach, and Williamsburg, and the Town of Blacksburg for joining the Cool Cities campaign and Cool Counties initiative; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the governing authorities of the Counties of Arlington and Fairfax, the Cities of Alexandria, Charlottesville, Newport News, Richmond, Virginia Beach, and Williamsburg, and the Town of Blacksburg.