[Archived] Alexandria City Council Reaffirms Commitment to Combat Climate Change

For Immediate Release: June 19, 2017

On June 13, the Alexandria City Council unanimously adopted a resolution reaffirming its full commitment to combat climate change and adapt to its unavoidable adverse impacts. This action follows the City’s move, on June 2, to join the Mayors National Climate Action Agenda. This coalition of more than 300 cities pledges to uphold goals embodied in the Paris Agreement under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, which has been signed by virtually every country in the world.

The City of Alexandria’s 2008 Eco-City Charter and Environmental Action Plan 2030 are well-aligned with the goals of the Paris Agreement. As the first locality in Virginia to adopt an Eco-City Charter, Alexandria has been at the forefront of progressive environmental change and action at the local level. The City continues to work toward positioning itself as a model of sustainability in its work to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. 

In particular, the City Council resolution highlights the direct impact climate change may have on Alexandria as a coastal community on the banks of the Potomac River. Scientists predict a potential sea level rise of four to six feet and increased severity and frequency of flooding events by the end of this century. This means adapting to climate change will be key to Alexandria’s environmental and economic future.

Since 2009, the City has made significant progress in greenhouse gas reduction efforts through its smart growth, transit-oriented development land use policies and practices; solid waste recycling and management; innovative transportation initiatives, including expansion of transit services; the permanent shutdown of the coal-fired Mirant Power Plant; and implementation of energy-efficient and renewable energy technologies.

For more information about Eco-City Alexandria, including the Eco-City Charter and Environmental Action Plan 2030, visit www.alexandriava.gov/Eco-City.

For media inquiries, contact Andrea J. Blackford, Senior Communications Officer, at andrea.blackford@alexandriava.gov or 703.746.3959.