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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
RECOGNIZING APRIL 22, 2016 AS NATIONAL EARTH DAY
WHEREAS, on April 22, 2016 Earth Day will be celebrated across the country for the 46th year; and
WHEREAS, the goal of Earth Day 2016 is to broaden and diversify the environmental movement in order to build a healthy, sustainable environment and address climate change; and
WHEREAS, Cook County Government has invested in energy efficiency improvements for buildings resulting in an 11% decrease in harmful greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions since 2010; and
WHEREAS, to continue decreasing GHG emissions it is necessary to broaden and diversify the number of employees participating in sustainable and efficient practices at work and at home; and
WHEREAS, with a workforce of over 22,000, Cook County through its employees can make significant contributions to reductions in GHG emissions throughout the County; and
WHEREAS, an employee change program to address energy-consuming behaviors was included as a part of the guaranteed energy savings projects approved by this Board in July 2015; and
WHEREAS, employees’ thoughts and suggestions on sustainability are the basis of the program through the feedback they have provided in working groups and surveys; and
WHEREAS, this feedback will determine how the behavioral change program will be structured to create and sustain cultures of energy efficiency in the many various work settings across the County; and
WHEREAS, this program provides information to employees that they can share with their family and neighbors, spreading good environmental practices throughout the community; and
WHEREAS, the County is committed to creating a livable and sustainable community by working with our employees and communities to reduce the effect of human activity on the environment by initiating and promoting energy and material conservation programs;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the President and Board of Commissioners of the County of Cook, State of Illinois, that the President and Board of Commissioners support April 22, 2016 as “Earth Day”.
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