Res. No. 439-A Title Resolution calling upon the New York State Legislature to pass A. 11895 or such other State legislation that would adopt new motor vehicle emissions standards for the control of greenhouse gases that are identical to those that will be developed for California. Body By Council Members Gennaro, Barron, Comrie, DeBlasio, Koppell, Monserrate, Nelson, Quinn, Sanders, Gerson and Lopez; also Council Member Brewer Whereas, Global warming may result in serious health, environmental and economic consequences for New York City and is thus a matter of serious and increasing concern; and Whereas, According to the Metropolitan East Coast Assessment of Impacts of Potential Climate Variability and Change, organized by the United States Global Change Research Program, global warming in the New York metropolitan area may result in an increase in the frequency of severe coastal flooding and erosion events; an increase in the loss of wetlands, resulting in the reduction of wildlife habitat, protective barriers against coastal flooding, and the filtering of pollutants; the potential increase of both droughts and floods, the latter of which would threaten the City's infrastructure; greater peak summer electricity demand; and an increase in summer-season heat stress morbidity and mortality, particularly among the elderly poor; and Whereas, According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, there is concern that climate change could increase concentrations of ground-level ozone since high temperatures, strong sunlight and stable air masses tend to increase urban ozone; and Whereas, High levels of ground-level ozone can cause a variety of respiratory problems, including aggravated asthma and significant temporary decreases in lung capacity; and Whereas, Reductions of greenhouse gases in motor vehicle emissions could reduce associated pollutants, such as particulate matter; and Whereas, The health effects of particulate matter include aggravated asthma, chronic bronchitis, difficult or painful breathing and decreased lung function; and Whereas, New York City suffers from the highest asthma rates in the country; and Whereas, According to the American Lung Association of the City of New York, more than half a million New York City residents and one out of every ten New York City school children suffer from asthma; and Whereas, The emission of greenhouse gases from motor vehicles, including carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide and methane, is one of the leading causes of global warming; and Whereas, The transportation sector currently produces approximately one-third of the total greenhouse gas pollution in New York State; and Whereas, According to the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, there were more than 1.8 million passenger vehicles alone registered in New York City in the year 2001; and Whereas, The control and reduction of emissions of greenhouse gases from motor vehicles are critical to slowing the effects of global warming; and Whereas, Current federal emissions standards for motor vehicles are not adequate to address the public health and environmental concerns regarding global warming; and Whereas, Section 177 of the Clean Air Act, 42 U.S.C. § 7507, authorizes States with State Implementation Plan provisions approved pursuant to that Act to "adopt and enforce for any model year standards relating to control of emissions from new motor vehicles or new motor vehicle engines" where such standards are identical to the California standards for the same model year and if California and such State adopt such standards at least two years before commencement of such model year; and Whereas, The State of California adopted legislation on July 22, 2002, Chapter 200 of the laws of 2002, which, among other things, requires the California Air Resources Board to develop and adopt regulations, no later than January 1, 2005, that achieve the maximum feasible and cost-effective reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from motor vehicles; now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls upon the New York State Legislature to pass A. 11895 or such other State legislation that would adopt new motor vehicle emissions standards for the control of greenhouse gases that are identical to those that will be developed for California. DCD LS#908