Bill Text: IL SR0419 | 2019-2020 | 101st General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Urges the State of Illinois to play an important role in addressing climate change.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 6-0)

Status: (Failed) 2021-01-13 - Session Sine Die [SR0419 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2019-SR0419-Introduced.html

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SENATE RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, Evidence from thousands of studies connect
increasing atmospheric greenhouse gas (GHG) concentrations
with escalating annual average temperatures, shrinking sea
ice, melting glaciers, rising sea levels/temperatures, and
increasing atmospheric water vapor, all of which connect to
extremes in global climate; and
WHEREAS, These increasing climate extremes threaten both
current and future ecological system sustainability upon which
health and well-being depend; and
WHEREAS, These influences reach beyond State and national
boundaries with implications for all humanity but
disproportionately affect the most vulnerable; and
WHEREAS, The interaction of political, economic, and
cultural factors influence resource availability and related
resilience of families and communities, with a higher risk of
adverse health consequences borne by geographic areas with
fewer economic resources and greater health disparities; and
WHEREAS, Climate-related health risks tend to worsen
health conditions, which increases chronic and infectious
diseases, injuries and premature life-loss from

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physical/psychosocial disabilities, trauma from separation of
families, disruption of healthcare and social services,
infectious disease vulnerability, risk of dehydration and
inadequate nutrition, heat stress, and psychological and
adjustment disorders; and
WHEREAS, Unchecked continuation of current climate trends
undermine the sustainability of water systems, agricultural
production, and biodiversity, contributing to basic resource
depletion, famine, social disruption, population
displacement/emigration, increased potential for violent
conflict, and decreased regional and global stability; and
WHEREAS, The vulnerability of the Midwest and the State of
Illinois is a microcosm of these influences from increasing
heat, humidity, precipitation, flooding, soil erosion,
sedimentation, property damage, late-season drought, invasive
species, pests, and plant diseases, leading to reduced air and
water quality, biodiversity, agricultural productivity, and
worker safety/productivity, all of which jeopardize human
health, agriculture, transportation, manufacturing/commerce,
recreation/tourism, and economic vibrancy; and
WHEREAS, Many of these consequences can be prevented or
substantially minimized through interventions that
dramatically reduce GHG emissions, such as decreased reliance

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on carbon-based fuels (i.e. gas, oil and coal) and energy waste
and increased energy conservation and reliance on renewable
energy sources (i.e. wind, solar and potentially nuclear
fusion); and
WHEREAS, Such a paradigm shift in the consumption and
production of energy is not just a necessity but an opportunity
for innovation, job creation, and substantial environmental
and related health, economic, social and national security
benefits, all of which represent co-benefits in addition to
reducing the risk of climate change; and
WHEREAS, Solutions to securing a more sustainable global
environment lie exclusively in the domain of individual and
collective actions aimed at holding global average temperature
increases to well below 2°C (3.6°F), above preindustrial
levels, and to pursuing efforts to limit such temperature
increases to 1.5°C (2.7°F); and
WHEREAS, Cities, urban areas, and states represent unique,
scalable incubators for innovation to counteract climate
change, especially since policies adopted in such
jurisdictions typically have the most immediate impact on the
daily lives of their residents; and
WHEREAS, Paramount to a coordinated, collective response

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to this threat is an acknowledgment of the risk it represents
for all humankind and the urgency to apply best available
science-based interventions; and
WHEREAS, The physical sciences have established this
understanding, but the social sciences are critical in
translating this knowledge to adaptive and mitigative actions
to match the need, and one of public health strengths is
functioning effectively at the nexus of the physical and social
sciences; therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL
ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that the State of Illinois
should play an important role in addressing climate change by
taking the following steps:
(1) Encourage local and State elected leaders (i.e.
mayors, county board chairs/executives and governors) to
officially endorse and engage in the respective
commitments, momentum, and resources available through
Climate Reality Mayors, Climate Resolution for County
Executives, and the U.S. Climate Alliance;
(2) Urge implementation of public and/or
public-private collaborative alternative financing
opportunities to encourage green development and climate
resilient infrastructure;
(3) Conduct, encourage, and support advocacy,

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education, and public awareness on the threat from climate
change and its solutions;
(4) Establish support for and funding of research,
surveillance, reporting, and tracking of climate-related
health effects;
(5) Expand State and local preparedness and its funding
for disaster readiness and response to effectively assist
in climate-related event resilience and rapid recovery;
and
(6) Promote green energy production and energy
efficiency in all public policies and practices, while
disincentivizing reliance on carbon-based fuels and
utilizing as examples new and rehabilitated public
facilities.