by Brett Rosenberg
May 22, 2006

More and more of the international scientific community have reached consensus that rapid, human-induced global climate change is a reality and an immediate serious threat to the planet’s health and well-being. Local leaders in cities across the U.S. have taken actions on their own, in spite of the lack of national leadership, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from their communities. As evidenced by the over 200 mayors who have signed on to the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement, which provides a framework for cities to reach Kyoto targets, mayors are very concerned about the threat of global climate change and refuse to wait any longer for the federal government to act.

During Summit on Energy and the Environment, mayors and other officials gathered to discuss the climate change issue, its interface with national energy policy, and what mayors are doing now to alleviate greenhouse gas emissions in the nation’s cities. Mayors and experts on various facets of the climate change issue provided a series of presentations and discussions during the session.

North Little Rock Mayor Patrick Henry Hays initiated the discussion and said that although we may not see the results of climate change today, our children and our children’s children will live in a world drastically different than ours if we don’t act now. Hays urged that we need to put politics aside because “climate change is not about left or right, but what is important for this country – no one doesn’t love their children; the future is in their faces.”

Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson described what his city is doing to reduce emissions from city operations and the commercial, industrial and residential communities. Anderson cited certain members of Congress who still believe that climate change is science fiction or even a hoax. He also reiterated Hays’ point, that climate change is not a partisan issue, and noted that, “as mayors, we have to learn, educate and be the advocates” when it comes to global climate change. Part of this process involves local leadership, which Mayor Anderson described in his Salt Lake City Green program.

Salt Lake City Green is a comprehensive community-wide program that ties together climate change, air quality, pollution and human health in ways that make the entire metropolitan area healthier and more sustainable. Part of the program, the Local Climate Action Plan, is working to show that the city can do its part to reduce global warming and health-endangering air pollution, and provide an example for other government entities, business and individuals. Through a variety of specific actions, including lighting efficiency retrofits; wind power purchases; LED traffic signal upgrades; alternative fuel use; cogeneration; and methane capture, the city has reduced the equivalent of over 23,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions.

Michelle Wyman, Executive Director of ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability, noted that the summit provided an excellent forum “…to share the good work mayors are doing.” ICLEI is a non-partisan organization that provides technical assistance to 170 American cities to reduce green house gases. ICLEI and The U.S. Conference of Mayors are working together to advance the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement, which over 200 mayors have signed. ICLEI was also instrumental in facilitating the Sundance Summit – A Mayor’s Gathering on Climate Protection last year, which several dozen mayors, Robert Redford, and Al Gore, among others attended. Wyman noted that there will be a second summit at Sundance this coming November.

One of the means mayors and others can use to reduce the impacts of climate change is to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases through market-based trading programs. Dr. Richard Sandor introduced mayors to the Chicago Climate Exchange (CCX), a voluntary, yet legally binding rule-based and integrated green house gas emissions registry, reduction and trading system. Sandor, Chairman and CEO of the Exchange, noted that, “Cities are driven by environmental needs – their local economies depend on them and there is an inexorable link between the moral compass and quality of life.” Consequently, according to Sandor, cities can use tools like the CCX to reduce their environmental burden. In 2005, the Conference of Mayors adopted policy to encourage cities to strongly consider CCX membership.

Following the presentations, mayors held an open and candid interactive climate change discussion. A number of mayors mentioned problems and best practices in their cities. Albuquerque Mayor Martin Chavez mentioned that in his city, methane emissions from an area landfill had been a major problem, but now the city is capturing the gas and using it as an energy source for a water remediation project. This has helped the city move beyond 65 percent of its Kyoto goals. Anderson highlighted ICLEI’s work, saying that it has been absolutely essential in reducing emissions in Salt Lake City. Anderson also noted that he’d like the city to join the CCX, but has some methane recovery issues to work out first; regardless, he said, the city will undergo a CCX audit to better understand what needs to be done.

Des Moines Mayor Frank Cownie asked Anderson how he was able to engage the business community on these issues. Anderson expressed that it’s key to “…recognize that most businesses do their own work the best, but can realize savings, publicity and good will by implementing practices that reduce waste and pollution.”