COOL CITIES
Solving
Global Warming One City at a Time
All over America, cities, counties and states are launching an exciting grassroots movement to help solve one of our country's most pressing problems: GLOBAL WARMING. Frustrated by stalling on the federal level, local leaders are moving forward with innovative energy solutions that cut our dependence on oil, benefit public health and save taxpayer dollars.
The scientific community has concluded that burning fossil fuels--oils, coal, and natural gas--to power our cars, homes and business is causing global temperatures to rise. This heating of the earth poses a serious threat to our health, safety and environment.
The national science academies of the United States, England, France, Russia, Germany, Japan, Italy, Brazil, China and India issued the following joint declaration in June 2005: "The scientific understanding of climate change is now sufficiently clear to justify nations taking prompt action." The world's leading scientist ask us to "recognize that delayed action will increase the risk of adverse environmental effects and will likely incur a greater cost." [Source: "Joint Science Academies' Statement: Global Response to Climate Change," June 2005]
Cities Take the Lead
The good news is our cities have not become paralyzed by the threat of global climate change. Instead, they are taking the lead with the "U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement" initiated by Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels. Introduced on February 16, 2005--the same day the Kyoto Protocol international global warming treaty took effect in 141 nations worldwide--the agreement is gathering support around the country and has earned the backing of the U.S. Conference of Mayors. To date, at least 974 mayors in 50 states have signed on, pledging to reduce global warming carbon dioxide pollution in their cities to 7 percent below 1990 levels by 2012.
Alton, Illinois signed on to be a Cool City on Wednesday, April 09, 2008!!
Seattle: Cool City Model--The city of Seattle is on the forefront on global warming local solutions. Under Mayor Greg Nickels' leadership, the city government has already reduced global warming pollution by more than 60 percent by constructing green buildings and operating alternative fuel vehicles. Seattle City Light is the only electric utility in the country committed to zero net greenhouse gas emissions by the end of 2005, and the city is working to expand transportation choices, recycling, and urban forest restoration.
Mayor Nickels has also created a Green Ribbon Commission on Climate Protection, composed of business, environmental, government, community and labor leaders. The Commission is developing a plan for Seattle to meet its global warming pollution reduction targets, and identifying key economic opportunities for Seattle's transition to a clean energy future.
"By making smart choices like building sustainable buildings, replacing old vehicles with a "Clean and Green" fleet, and setting strict "no net-emissions" goals for Seattle City Light, the City has shown we can take local action on global problems," said Mayor Nickels.
COOL CITIES LINKS
*Four steps to become a cool city
