H. C. R. No. 42 As Introduced

As Introduced

130th General Assembly

Regular Session

2013-2014

H. C. R. No. 42

Representatives Foley, Ramos

Cosponsors: Representatives Driehaus, Hagan, R., Antonio, Strahorn

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

To recognize that human actions have contributed to 1
the rise in global sea and atmospheric 2
temperatures and the increase in concentration of 3
greenhouse gases, and to declare that Ohio will 4
actively participate in diminishing and minimizing 5
future greenhouse gas emissions. 6

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF OHIO
(THE SENATE CONCURRING):

       WHEREAS, Warming of the climate system is undeniable, and 7
since the 1950s, many of the observed changes are unprecedented. 8
The atmosphere and ocean have warmed, the amounts of snow and ice 9
have diminished, sea level has risen, and concentrations of 10
greenhouse gases have increased; and 11

       WHEREAS, Each of the last three decades has been successively 12
warmer at the earth's surface than any preceding decade since 13
1850, and in the Northern Hemisphere, 1983-2012 was likely the 14
warmest 30-year period of the last 1,400 years. Furthermore, over 15
the last two decades, the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets have 16
been losing mass, glaciers have continued to shrink, and Arctic 17
sea ice and Northern Hemisphere spring snow cover have continued 18
to decrease; and 19

       WHEREAS, The rate of sea level rise since the mid-19th 20
century has been larger than the mean rate during the previous 21
2,000 years, and the atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide, 22
methane, and nitrous oxide have increased to levels unprecedented 23
in at least the last 800,000 years. In particular, carbon dioxide 24
concentrations have increased by 40% since the preindustrial 25
period, primarily from fossil fuel emissions. Oceans have absorbed 26
about 30% of the emitted anthropogenic carbon dioxide, causing 27
ocean acidification; and 28

       WHEREAS, Human influence on the climate system is clear. This 29
is evident from increasing greenhouse gas concentrations in the 30
atmosphere, positive radiative forcing, and observed warming when 31
coupled with an understanding of the climate system. Human 32
influence has been detected in warming of the atmosphere and the 33
ocean, in changes in the global water cycle, in reductions in snow 34
and ice, in global mean sea level rise, and in changes in certain 35
climate extremes. It is extremely likely that human influence has 36
been the dominant cause of the observed warming since the mid-20th 37
century; and 38

       WHEREAS, Continued emissions of greenhouse gases will cause 39
further warming and changes in all components of the climate 40
system. Limiting climate change will require substantial and 41
sustained reductions of greenhouse gas emissions; now therefore be 42
it 43

       RESOLVED, That we, the members of the 130th General Assembly 44
of the State of Ohio, in adopting this resolution, recognize that 45
global sea and atmospheric temperatures have risen, concentrations 46
of greenhouse gases have increased, and human actions have 47
contributed to those changes; and be it further 48

       RESOLVED, That we, the members of the 130th General Assembly 49
of the State of Ohio, in adopting this resolution, resolve that 50
Ohio will actively participate in diminishing and minimizing 51
future greenhouse gas emissions; and be it further 52

       RESOLVED, That the Clerk of the House of Representatives 53
transmit duly authenticated copies of this resolution to the 54
President of the United States, the members of the Ohio 55
Congressional delegation, the Governor of Ohio, and the news media 56
of Ohio. 57

WHEREAS, Warming of the climate system is undeniable, and	7
since the 1950s, many of the observed changes are unprecedented.	8
The atmosphere and ocean have warmed, the amounts of snow and ice	9
have diminished, sea level has risen, and concentrations of	10
greenhouse gases have increased; and	11

WHEREAS, Each of the last three decades has been successively	12
warmer at the earth's surface than any preceding decade since	13
1850, and in the Northern Hemisphere, 1983-2012 was likely the	14
warmest 30-year period of the last 1,400 years. Furthermore, over	15
the last two decades, the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets have	16
been losing mass, glaciers have continued to shrink, and Arctic	17
sea ice and Northern Hemisphere spring snow cover have continued	18
to decrease; and	19

WHEREAS, The rate of sea level rise since the mid-19th	20
century has been larger than the mean rate during the previous	21
2,000 years, and the atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide,	22
methane, and nitrous oxide have increased to levels unprecedented	23
in at least the last 800,000 years. In particular, carbon dioxide	24
concentrations have increased by 40% since the preindustrial	25
period, primarily from fossil fuel emissions. Oceans have absorbed	26
about 30% of the emitted anthropogenic carbon dioxide, causing	27
ocean acidification; and	28

WHEREAS, Human influence on the climate system is clear. This	29
is evident from increasing greenhouse gas concentrations in the	30
atmosphere, positive radiative forcing, and observed warming when	31
coupled with an understanding of the climate system. Human	32
influence has been detected in warming of the atmosphere and the	33
ocean, in changes in the global water cycle, in reductions in snow	34
and ice, in global mean sea level rise, and in changes in certain	35
climate extremes. It is extremely likely that human influence has	36
been the dominant cause of the observed warming since the mid-20th	37
century; and	38

WHEREAS, Continued emissions of greenhouse gases will cause	39
further warming and changes in all components of the climate	40
system. Limiting climate change will require substantial and	41
sustained reductions of greenhouse gas emissions; now therefore be	42
it	43

RESOLVED, That we, the members of the 130th General Assembly	44
of the State of Ohio, in adopting this resolution, recognize that	45
global sea and atmospheric temperatures have risen, concentrations	46
of greenhouse gases have increased, and human actions have	47
contributed to those changes; and be it further	48

RESOLVED, That we, the members of the 130th General Assembly	49
of the State of Ohio, in adopting this resolution, resolve that	50
Ohio will actively participate in diminishing and minimizing	51
future greenhouse gas emissions; and be it further	52

RESOLVED, That the Clerk of the House of Representatives	53
transmit duly authenticated copies of this resolution to the	54
President of the United States, the members of the Ohio	55
Congressional delegation, the Governor of Ohio, and the news media	56
of Ohio.	57