By Ted Fischer and Judy Sheahan
June 27, 2005

Redmond (WA) Mayor Rosemarie Ives, Chair of the Conference's Sustainable Development Task Force, welcomed speakers to the Sustainable Development Task Force meeting June 12. Ives told participants, "I can think of no better place to host a sustainable development task force meeting than in Chicago where Mayor Daley and the region have been on the forefront of implementing sustainable development at the local level."

Chicago Acting Environmental Commissioner Sadhu Johnston explained the implementation of Daley's Environmental Action Agenda, whose goal is to make Chicago the greenest city in the United States. The Action Agenda outlines existing and new practices including the use of a global building monitoring system to power down lights after hours in all buildings, LEED certification for all new municipal buildings and purchasing environmentally friendly cleaning products that will be used in every city facility by the end of the year.

"The city of Chicago believes that leading by example is the best way to proceed," Johnston said. "City hall and many buildings across the region are implementing a green roofs program to conserve energy as a part of our Green Initiatives, and many other cities are starting to follow our lead," he added.

Johnston stated that every effort to a greener future requires certain steps to be taken. The leadership of Daley and the city commissioners plus the technical experts from various city departments are there to help facilitate the cause. Johnston and the city believe that best practices and benchmarking are the best way to a greener future.

Within Chicago, 400,000 trees have been planted on city property since the day Daley took office, 100 miles of bike lanes have been created, 10,000 bike racks installed and a free downtown trolley created. "The city is still scratching the surface of what can be done," Johnston said. "We have made amazing strides but there is still more to do to make our city more reliable on green alternatives and fossil free technology." For more information on the Chicago Environmental Action Agenda visit the Conference's website at usmayors.org/uscm/brownfields.

Executive Director of Chicago Metropolis 2020 Frank Beal also participated in the meeting and discussed the role of the private sector in creating a sustainable environment. Chicago Metropolis 2020 is based on an idea that was first established in 1877 by the Commercial Club of Chicago. They believed in planning ahead for the future and deciding what they wanted their community to look like. Chicago Metropolis 2020 still holds this ideal true by providing businesses with principles and helping make decisions that are beneficial for the city's continued growth.

Chicago Metropolis 2020 has estimated that the costs of congestion for businesses and the city are $4 billion every year. Currently they are working with the city to help create a more dynamic transportation program to accommodate the 1 million plus more residents the city expects by the year 2020 as just one of their many efforts. "Policies as simple as synchronizing traffic lights from town to town, or as complex as ensuring that workers in our region can find housing near their jobs, require more than 272 municipalities acting independently," Beal said. "A strong region requires that communities work together on issues that transcend local political boundaries. Local governments can give up a little in order to gain much more: a region that is attractive and prosperous." For more information on Chicago Metropolis 2020 please visit their website at www.chicagometropolis2020.org