The Eau Claire City Council voted Tuesday night to support the Paris climate agreement after President Donald Trump withdrew from it earlier this month.
Municipalities can’t officially sign on to the agreement, but they can support it. In a 7-4, the council pledged to commit the city to sustainable, green energy goals.
Council President Kerry Kincaid said some members wanted to voice their frustration with the president’s decision.
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“This resolution calls on us to double down our efforts to reduce our carbon emissions,” she said. “But it also does express a respectful irritation at our country’s withdrawal from a world conversation about climate change.”
Councilman Bob Van Haden proposed an amendment to remove direct references to the Paris climate agreement, which failed in another 7-4 vote.
“I voted no on the resolution because I feel very strongly that the city council is a nonpartisan political body and that we should not be taking sides on political issues,” he said.
The resolution will require the city to invest in clean energy infrastructure whenever possible and goals such as creating a longterm plan to reduce carbon emissions.
Councilwoman Kate Beaton and councilman Andrew Werthmann proposed the resolution.
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