By Lina Garcia
July 30, 2007

More than 600 mayors from U.S. cities have now signed The U.S. Conference of Mayors’ Climate Protection Agreement, an agreement where supporting mayors pledge to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by seven percent below 1990 levels by 2012. This agreement is the only climate protection agreement of its kind among U.S. elected officials. In early July, Cedar Rapids (IA) Mayor Kay Halloran became the 600th mayor to sign the agreement.

The rapidly growing support from mayors for this agreement is significant because signatories represent nearly 25 percent of the current total U.S. population estimate. “We’re proud to have the support of 600 mayors from all 50 states sign this agreement, but we won’t stop until every U.S. mayor has joined the fight to protect our climate,” said Conference President Trenton Mayor Douglas H. Palmer. “The significant commitment by mayors to confront this global challenge is strong evidence of the growing political consensus from the local level to protect our climate now.”

Conference Vice President Miami Mayor Manuel Diaz stated, “Mayors in Florida are attuned to the threats that global warming poses to cities, especially coastal communities. That is why so many mayors in my state have joined the campaign to reduce global warming.”

“City by city across America, mayors are taking action. Isn’t it time our federal government joined the fray? Our grandchildren would appreciate it,” said Conference Advisory Board Chair Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels, who first launched the mayors climate agreement in 2005.

Conference Executive Director Tom Cochran added, “We left our historical 75th Annual Meeting exceeding our aggressive goal to have 500 cities sign our climate agreement. Climate protection dominated our deliberations and we confirmed that mayors are on the front lines in protecting the environment in American cities.”

In early May, Palmer announced during a convening of international mayors in New York, that Tulsa Mayor Kathy Taylor became the 500th mayor to sign the agreement, further demonstrating the geographic support behind the agreement.

To view a list of mayors who are signatories to the U.S. Conference of Mayors Climate Protection Agreement, or to find out how to sign up, visit the website usmayors.org/climateprotection.