By Debra DeHaney-Howard
November 20, 2006

More than 30 mayors from across the country gathered in Sundance (UT) November 12–14 for the second annual Sundance Summit: A Mayors’ Gathering on Climate Protection. The two-day conference, co-hosted by Actor and Environmentalist Robert Redford, Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson, and ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability (ICLEI), provided mayors the opportunity to discuss and share “best practices” on the most effective, practical and innovative solutions mayors can adopt to reduce greenhouse gas emission.

Mayors heard from a number of people, including former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, former U.S. Senator and presidential candidate Gary Hart, University of Michigan Scientist Dr. Rosina Bierbaum, and many other climate change experts.

In his opening remarks, Anderson outlined the goals of the conference, which were to strengthen the impact of mayors across the political spectrum, and to equip mayors with the tools to launch effective policy and plans. Anderson said, “This conference is focused on action. It’s for mayors to learn how they can make a real difference on this crucial issue and acquire the resources necessary to get the job done. The successes in municipalities are going to help lead to a sensible national policy.”

Redford said in his opening remarks, “For years now, this issue has been made a political football at the national level of politics. Significant, quantifiable change has been coming from municipalities for a long time, and we want to help encourage more of it. State and local officials are way ahead of Washington on this. Both Democrats and Republicans will tell you that fighting global warming is not only an electoral winner, but that reducing global warming pollution is not only better for the environment, but better for public health, better for national security, better for the economy, and better for the community.”

Redford’s interest in global warming dates back to 1989 when he co-convened with the Soviet Academy of Sciences leading experts from a wide array of disciplines to address the issue of global warming and climate change.

In concluding his remarks, Redford stated that rather than looking negatively at global warming, which we certainly can do as the evidence has increased, there’s also a time for optimism and it can be applied to this summit because of all the solutions that are coming from the grass roots.

The luncheon speaker, San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, told the participating mayors about a number of energy and environmental policies and programs initiated in San Francisco. They include San Francisco’s Climate Action Program, which aims to lower greenhouse gas emissions by significant levels; the Zero Emissions 2020 Plan, a program that commits the city to develop a clean air plan for public transit; and the Electricity Resource Plan, which encourages the use of renewable energy, including solar, wind and ocean waves. In addition, San Francisco and the state of California have joined together to offer small businesses low-interest loans to add or upgrade energy-efficient appliances and technology.

Austin Mayor Will Wynn, Chair of the Conference of Mayors Energy Committee outlined the Conference of Mayors and ICLEI’s climate change partnership, which was formed last June. Wynn told participating mayors that through this new partnership, mayors will have “additional resources and technical assistance to implement climate change programs in their cities.” Wynn also reported that more than 328 mayors have signed on to the U. S. Conference of Mayors Climate Protection Agreement. This represents more than 53 million people from 46 states.

Former U. S. Senator and presidential candidate Gary Hart told participants that, “Climate change, energy security and national security are inseparable issues that ought to be the nation’s top priorities.” In urging the mayors to use their power, Hart said, “Mayors need to use their clout with members of Congress to elevate climate change on the national agenda.”

At the conclusion of the two-day conference, mayors renewed their commitment to address the challenges of climate protection through the development of initiatives at the local level.