SR0099 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0099 LRB096 11066 JDS 21389 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are deeply concerned about the impact of climate change and the future health and well-being of our planet; we believe that energy efficiency, natural resource conservation, and a demand by the voting public for action by elected officials are important elements to combating climate change; and

WHEREAS, Earth Hour is an international and local symbolic event organized by the World Wildlife Fund to raise awareness about climate change issues and to encourage businesses, individuals, and governments to take action to reduce their carbon emissions and their impact on the environment in their daily lives and operations; and

WHEREAS, Earth Hour asks all citizens, businesses, government agencies, and commercial and non-commercial establishments to turn off all non-essential lighting for one hour, beginning at 8:30 P.M. on March 28, 2009, and to encourage citizens and businesses to commit to actions they can take in the coming year to reduce their carbon footprints and conserve energy; and

WHEREAS, If every household were to install one compact fluorescent lamp (CFL), annual energy savings will reach approximately 18 gigawatt hours per year, or 1.3% of total residential energy demand; and

WHEREAS, Earth Hour will be used as a tool to inform local residents and businesses about existing information and tools already available within the community to assist them in increasing energy efficiency and decreasing emissions and the use of natural resources; and

WHEREAS, Extinguishing non-essential lights in all State government buildings, public schools, and public landmarks for one hour and urging all businesses and citizens to do the same will send a clear message that the people of Illinois are concerned about climate change, that we stand with the rest of the world in seeking solutions, and that we are demanding that elected leaders act immediately to take measures that will help fight global climate change effort to stop climate change, including the passage of legislation and good-faith participation in the United Nations Climate Change Conference negotiations in Copenhagen, Denmark in December of 2009; and

WHEREAS, Turning non-essential lights off in all State government buildings, public schools, and public landmarks will serve as an important rallying point for the Statewide energy conservation event known as Earth Hour; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we embrace and support Earth Hour in order to raise awareness about global climate change and energy efficiency; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we encourage all State employees to turn off all non-essential lighting in State government buildings, public schools, and public landmarks for the hour between 8:30 and 9:30 P.M. on March 28, 2009 in order to conserve energy and raise awareness about global climate change as part of this energy conservation event; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we designate the date of March 28, 2009 as "Earth Hour Day" in the State of Illinois.