By Judy Sheahan and Debra DeHaney-Howard
October 9, 2006

Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich hosted 34 mayors September 16-18 in Alaska, to participate in a meeting focused on the impacts and solutions to global warming. The meeting entitled “Strengthening Our Cities: Mayors Responding to Global Climate Change” was sponsored by Anchorage, The U.S. Conference of Mayors, ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability, and the Alaska Conservation Foundation.

The meeting brought together mayors from both the lower 48 States as well as 11 mayors from Alaska who shared their experiences with how climate change was impacting their communities. Mayors also were briefed by climate change experts, wildlife biologists and members of the private sector.

“Alaska is a vast and beautiful place and a prime example of the challenges cities across the United States will be facing with climate change,” said Begich. “We need to take concrete steps now to make our communities more resilient to climate change, and we have a responsibility to put in place cost'saving, efficient strategies to reduce our emissions.”

Some of the impacts of the changing climate include:

• Permafrost is no longer permanently frozen causing buildings to become unstable and freshwater lakes to drain;

• Glaciers are receding at a time when they should be expanding;

• Coastal villages that are no longer protected by ice are losing so much land that they might have to be relocated; and

• Due to longer summers, less severe winters and drier conditions, the spruce bark beetle has become more invasive and has killed millions of acres of trees, leaving the areas vulnerable to wildfires.

In addition to Begich, various mayors moderated, gave presentations and best practices including Conference of Mayors Past President Akron Mayor Don Plusquellic, Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson, Shishmaref (AK) Mayor Stanley Tocktoo, Aspen Mayor Helen Klanderud, and Conference of Mayors Environment Chair Charlotte Mayor Patrick McCrory.

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (AK) addressed the group via a live videoconference where she described Alaska as the “canary in the coal mine.” She talked about the debate in Congress over climate change and the different approaches – new technology, increased regulations, increasing the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFÉ) standards, and finding new energy sources – that are being considered.

Murkowski mentioned that one bill being debated would raise CAFÉ standards to 35 miles per gallon by 2017. Fayetteville Mayor Dan Coody raised the question about the timeframe for the proposal. “Why should we wait till 2017,” Coody asked. “Our economy is already crushed and automakers say they don’t have the technology. We need to be more aggressive and CAFÉ standards need to be raised. Since automakers haven’t made changes, Congress should.”

Murkowski was asked by Des Moines Mayor Frank Cownie what mayors could expect from Washington and what the nations’ mayors could do to spur action. Murkowski said that Congress is “stuck on everything” but, “If it is issue of concern with voters and becomes a bipartisan campaign issue, Congress will pay attention.”