Lawmakers commit city to clean energy, support of Paris climate agreement

KINGSTON, N.Y. » City lawmakers adopted a memorializing resolution calling on Kingston to commit to 100 percent clean energy by the year 2050 and to continue to support the principles of the Paris climate agreement.

The Common Council adopted the resolution Wednesday by a vote of 7-1.

The resolution reaffirms the city’s commitment to taking action to further reduce climate pollution, to continue to support the principles of the Paris agreement, and “to stand with cities and other publicand private-sector partners throughout the world to advance action in accordance with the goals outlined in the Paris agreement.”

Alderwoman Maryann Mills, D-Ward 7, cast the lone vote against the resolution, noting the city already has a Climate Smart Kingston Commission. She also questioned where the memorializing resolution would be sent or whether it would just remain on file with the city.

“If nobody’s going to see this memorializing resolution, that concerns me as well,” Mills said.

Alderman Reynolds Scott-Childress, D-Ward 3, said it was his understanding the resolution would be forwarded to the New York Conference of Mayors. He said he received that information during an informal conversation with Kingston Mayor Steve Noble.

This is the second time the Common Council has considered the resolution.

The council had previously referred the matter back to committee for further consideration. The General Government/Public Safety Committee then slightly amended the resolution, removing reference to President Donald Trump — who on June 1 declared he was withdrawing the U.S. from the Paris climate agreement — and forwarded the matter back to the council.

Majority Leader William Carey, D-Ward 5, said there is debate about how much weight memorializing resolutions carry, but said it is important because it shows Kingston’s leadership on environmental issues. He said the city was named a “Climate Smart Community” by New York state with a bronze rating, which is the highest available.

“I think just passing this and, again, showing the rest of the state that we’re taking a leadership role in this important issue of our environment, I think is important and says a lot,” Carey said. He said it could also open the city up to more grant funding for environmental issues.

In addition to being a Climate Smart Community and having a climate commission, the city has a Climate Action Plan and was also named a “Clean Energy Community.”

“I think it’s very, very important in this day and time, with the way things are going in the country, that we show support for this because it’s part of the future,” Alderwoman Nina Dawson, D-Ward 4, said of the resolution. “We’re looking ahead.”