By Debra DeHaney-Howard
March 5, 2007

In a March 1st hearing before the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels, who co-chairs the Conference of Mayors Task Force on Climate Protection, joined with Des Moines Mayor Frank Cownie to call for Congressional action on climate change.

Nickels talked about the scale of the climate change problem, stating that climate disruption does not follow geographic or political boundaries “its impacts affect us all.” He noted that scientific consensus on global warming is increasingly clear and unequivocal, it is happening and human activities are causing it. “We need clear, strong and effective federal policy that stabilizes the climate, 80 percent reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, based on 1990 levels. Congress needs to adopt a greenhouse gas reduction plan that calls for a hard and declining cap on emissions and allows for carbon trading among entities,” said Nickels.

Nickels told panel members that mayors across the nation have begun to implement local solutions to address the climate change. He said, “409 mayors across the country have signed on to the U. S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement, representing over 60 million people in all 50 states, plus the District of Columbia. This is not symbolic but 409 laboratories working to find creative ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.”

Nickels noted that to help accelerate the many innovations emerging in cities, the Conference of Mayors is advocating an Energy and Environment Block Grant program to provide mayors the necessary resources so that “we move beyond the grassroots innovation that is blossoming in every state in the country.”

He also talked about Seattle’s experience in dealing with the effects of global warming and noted the many actions Seattle has taken, including aggressive recycling, green building and green fleet management programs, establishing a Green Ribbon Commission on Climate Protection consisting of about 20 Seattle community leaders, and most recently the municipally owned utility – Seattle City Light – being the first electric utility in the nation to be greenhouse gas neutral.

In February 2005 Nickels initiated a climate change campaign, known as the Climate Protection Agreement, an effort whereby cities pledge to meet or beat the climate pollution-cutting goal of the Kyoto Protocol.

Also testifying was Des Moines Mayor Cownie, who serves as a member of the Conference of Mayors Climate Protection Task Force. In his remarks, Cownie emphasized the role of cities in responding to global warming. He noted that he, along with over 400 Mayors, signed the Mayor’s Climate Protection Agreement because “our residents recognize that there is a finite amount of energy and resources available, scarcity of resources increases costs. We view this as a crucial issue in protecting our economic vitality and our high quality of life.” Cownie highlighted various greenhouse gas emission reduction programs implemented in Des Moines, including converting the city fleet, replacing incandescent traffic signals with LED bulbs, and creating the Mayor’s Task Force on Energy Conservation and Environmental Enhancement, which will examine energy usage and environmental protection in Des Moines.

Cownie urged for federal commitments to cities to address climate change, stating, “federal action is needed now, because the challenge to protect our quality of life is one that every city and town in the country faces. Give us the tools.”

Cownie also called on Congress to enact legislation to create incentives to promote energy efficiency and reduce resource consumption through federal tax credits, higher fuel standards, recycling standards, and water use standards and that the legislation should fund research and development, greenhouse gas emissions inventories, and demonstration projects.

Senator Barbara Boxer (CA), Chair of the Senate Environment and Publics Works Committee, called the hearing to focus attention on state, regional and local perspectives on global warming. In her opening statement Senator Boxer said, “Today’s hearing is about those states, regions and cities that already recognize these facts and have taken strong, bipartisan action to help stop global warming. They are leading the way for the rest of the nation. They understand what is at stake for our future and they are sending us a signal that we should heed.”

Senator George Voinovich (OH), former Governor of Ohio and Mayor of Cleveland, urged the mayors to work with their other state and local government colleagues to “bring a plan to Congress.” Cownie responded by stating our plan is for an Energy and Environment Block Grant.