HJ0075 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HJ0075 LRB100 13739 MST 28602 r

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Scientists from 13 federal agencies have noted that thousands of studies, conducted by tens of thousands of scientists, have documented climate changes on land and in the air; and

WHEREAS, The National Climate Assessment Report, which is congressionally mandated every four years, finds it "extremely likely" that more than half of the global mean temperature increase since 1951 can be linked to human influence, stating: "Many lines of evidence demonstrate that human activities, especially emissions of greenhouse gases, are primarily responsible for the observed climate changes over the last 15 decades. There are no alternative explanations. There are no apparent natural cycles in the observational record that can explain the recent changes in climate."; and

WHEREAS, The report cites the European heat wave of 2003 and the record heat in Australia in 2013 as specific episodes where "relatively strong evidence" showed that a man-made factor contributed to the extreme weather and concludes that it is "extremely likely" that more than half of the global mean temperature increase since 1951 can be linked to human influence; and

WHEREAS, Extreme weather resulting from climate change poses a grave threat in Illinois to the economy, infrastructure, agriculture, forestry, transportation, air and water quality, and the health of its citizens; and

WHEREAS, Public statements from the Trump administration indicate that no action is coming from the federal government on this issue; and

WHEREAS, If we do not act now, the consequences for the country and the State will be devastating and irreversible; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that we urge President Trump to acknowledge the conclusions found in the National Climate Assessment Report, and we urge the President and the United States Congress to immediately begin taking action to curb greenhouse gas emissions; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we urge the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency to report back to the General Assembly with a range of options for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in lieu of federal action, focusing on solutions that create jobs and aid the transition to a clean energy economy, protect environmental justice communities and consumers, and also reduce pollutants that cause or exacerbate asthma and other respiratory health problems; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be delivered to President Donald Trump, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, U.S. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, U.S. Speaker of the House Paul Ryan, U.S. House of Representatives Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, all members of the Illinois Congressional Delegation, and the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency.