[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 83 (Thursday, June 14, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6350-S6351]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 50--RECOGNIZING THE IMPORTANT CONTRIBUTION
THAT LOCAL GOVERNMENTS MAKE TO SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND ENSURING A
VIABLE FUTURE FOR OUR PLANET
Mr. LEVIN (for himself and Ms. Stabenow) submitted the following
concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on
Environment and Public Works.
S. Con. Res. 50
Whereas the city of Ann Arbor, Michigan was chosen by the
International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (in
this concurrent resolution referred to as the ``ICLEI'') to
host the U.S. and Canadian Municipal Leaders Rio+10
Preparatory Meeting for the United Nations-sponsored 2002
World Summit on Sustainable Development (in this concurrent
resolution referred to as the ``2002 World Summit'');
Whereas the ICLEI strives to build and serve a worldwide
movement of local governments to achieve tangible
improvements in global environmental and sustainable
development conditions through cumulative local actions;
Whereas the goals of the 2002 World Summit are to generate
momentum toward sustainable development and ensure a viable
future for our planet;
Whereas the predecessor of the 2002 World Summit was the
United Nations Conference on Environment and Development,
known as the Earth Summit;
Whereas local governments play a central role in the
development of communities that respect ecological integrity,
promote social well-being, and create economic vitality by
developing and maintaining economic, social, and
environmental infrastructures, overseeing local planning
processes, establishing local environmental policies and
regulations, and assisting in implementing national
environmental policies;
Whereas the city of Ann Arbor, Michigan is a member of the
ICLEI's Cities for Climate Protection, an association of over
300 local governments from around the world dedicated to
developing sustainable community-based solutions to local and
global environmental problems;
Whereas the city of Ann Arbor, Michigan is a designated
Department of Energy Clean City in recognition of the city's
efforts to purchase alternative fuel vehicles, build
alternative fuel infrastructure, and educate the community
about the use of alternative fuel vehicles in order to
enhance energy security and environmental quality;
Whereas the city of Ann Arbor, Michigan is a member of the
Environmental Protection Agency's Green Lights Program and
has retrofitted over 20 city buildings with energy efficient
lighting;
Whereas the city of Ann Arbor, Michigan developed an
innovative Municipal Energy Fund to improve the energy
efficiency of city facilities and provide community
demonstrations of energy saving and renewable energy
technologies that result in environmental stewardship and
fiscal responsibility;
Whereas the city of Ann Arbor, Michigan has an Energy Plan
that reduces energy use and encourages renewable energy, a
Solid Waste Plan that encourages recycling, composting, and
source reduction, and a Transportation Plan that reduces
traffic congestion and vehicle miles traveled through the
implementation of mass transit and alternate transportation
programs;
Whereas the Environmental Management Team of the city of
Ann Arbor, Michigan has a comprehensive program addressing
environmental cleanup, environmental restoration, park and
greenway development, energy efficiency, transportation
alternatives, parks, infill development, and waste water
management;
Whereas the city of Ann Arbor, Michigan was chosen from
among 35 cities in North America to host the ICLEI's U.S. and
Canadian Municipal Leaders Rio+10 Preparatory Meeting;
Whereas the city of Ann Arbor, Michigan is 1 of 6 cities
worldwide selected to host a preparatory meeting for the 2002
World Summit; and
Whereas the University of Michigan and the residents of the
city of Ann Arbor, Michigan are committed to communitywide
initiatives to support sustainable development: Now,
therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives
concurring), That Congress recognizes the city of Ann Arbor,
Michigan and its residents for their dedication to building a
community that respects ecological integrity, promotes social
well-being, and creates economic vitality.
Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, I and my colleague from Michigan, Senator
Stabenow, are submitting a resolution recognizing the City of Ann
Arbor, Michigan and its residents for their dedication to building a
community that respects the environment, promotes social well-being and
creates economic vitality. The City of Ann
[[Page S6351]]
Arbor is hosting the U.S. and Canadian Municipal Leaders Rio+10
Preparatory Meeting for United Nations-sponsored 2002 World Summit on
Sustainable Development. The 2002 World Summit marks the ten-year
anniversary of the United Nation's Conference on Environment and
Development, better known as the Earth Summit. The Earth Summit, held
in 1992 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, built wide political and popular
support for environmental protection and sustainable development. Local
leaders from across the world will gather at the 2002 World Summit to
assess progress and examine barriers to the implementation of the Rio
agreements. The Summit and preparatory meetings will generate new
momentum for and renew our commitment to ensuring a viable future for
our planet.
In preparation for the 2002 World Summit, the International Council
for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI) is convening regional
meetings to bring together local government leaders, technical experts
and representatives of local government associations to evaluate local
implementation of the Earth Summit's Agenda 21 and the Rio Conventions.
The City of Ann Arbor was one of six cities worldwide chosen to host a
preparatory meeting to assess opportunities and recommend strategies
for accelerated action for sustainable development at the local level.
Ann Arbor serves as a model for the important contributions that local
governments make to sustainable development. Committed to protecting
the environment while promoting social well-being and economic
vitality, the city is purchasing alternative fuel vehicles, building
alternative fuel infrastructure and educating residents about the use
of alternative fuel vehicles in order to enhance energy security and
environmental quality. The city is also developing an innovative
Municipal Energy Fund to improve the energy efficiency of city
facilities and provide community demonstrations of energy saving and
renewable energy technologies that result in environmental stewardship
and fiscal responsibility. For these reasons, the city is designated an
ICLEI's City for Climate Protection and a Department of Energy Clean
City. Protecting precious land resources and ensuring clean air and
water for residents are also important priorities of the city. Ann
Arbor has a comprehensive program addressing environmental cleanup and
restoration, park and greenway development, energy efficiency,
transportation alternatives, infill development and wastewater
management.
I congratulate all the local leaders who will be attending the U.S.
and Canadian Municipal Leaders Rio+10 Preparatory Meeting. Their
cumulative local actions will improve our global environment. And, I
commend the City of Ann Arbor, its residents and the University of
Michigan for building a community that strives to protect our
environment for future generations.
Ms. STABENOW. Mr. President, I am proud to join my colleague from
Michigan, Senator Levin, in submitting a resolution recognizing the
City of Ann Arbor, Michigan and its residents for their dedication to
building a community that respects ecological integrity, promotes
social well-being, and creates economic vitality.
On June 20, 2001, the City of Ann Arbor, Michigan will be hosting the
U.S. and Canadian Municipal Leaders Rio+10 Preparatory Meeting for the
United Nations-sponsored 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development.
The 2002 World Summit marks the ten-year anniversary of the 1992 Earth
Summit, which helped build worldwide political and popular support for
environmental protection and sustainable development. The 2002 World
Summit will help assess the progress made since the Earth Summit, and
renew our commitment to providing a bright future for our planet.
The City of Ann Arbor was chosen from among 35 cities in North
America to host the U.S. and Canadian Municipal Leaders Rio+10
Preparatory Meeting, and is one of six cities worldwide selected to
host a preparatory meeting for the 2002 World Summit. The preparatory
meeting will bring together local government leaders, technical experts
and representatives of local government associations to examine
opportunities and recommend strategies for environmental protection and
sustainable development at the local level.
The City of Ann Arbor has had numerous environmental accomplishments,
and serves as a shining example of how local government can make
tremendous contributions to solving local and global environmental
problems. The City of Ann Arbor has developed an Energy Plan that
reduces energy use and encourages renewable energy, a Solid Waste Plan
that encourages recycling, composting, and source reduction, and a
Transportation Plan that promotes mass transit and alternate
transportation programs. Ann Arbor is also a Department of Energy Clean
City, in recognition of its efforts to build alternative fuel
infrastructure, purchase alternative fuel vehicles and educate the
community about their uses. The city is also developing an innovative
Municipal Energy Fund to improve the energy efficiency of city
facilities and provide community demonstrations of energy saving and
renewable energy technologies that result in environmental stewardship
and fiscal responsibility. The City of Ann Arbor has made protecting
the environment a community priority, and serves as a model of how
local governments can play a critical role in sustainable development.
I congratulate the City of Ann Arbor for the honor of being chosen as
one of six cities worldwide to host a preparatory meeting for the 2002
World Summit, and I congratulate all the local leaders who will be
attending this preparatory meeting to help solve our environmental
problems. I also commend the city and its residents for building a
community that works hard to protect the environment, while at the same
time creating economic vitality and promoting social well-being.
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