Local Action to Protect the Climate U.S. Conference of Mayors Environment Committee

Local Action to Protect the ClimateU.S. Conference of Mayors

Environment Committee

Charlotte NC Mayor Patrick McCrory, Chair

Washington D.C.

January 22, 2003

International Council for Local Environmental

Initiatives (ICLEI)Worldwide environmental association of local governments

550+ local governments working to achieve tangible global and local environmental and sustainability improvements through local action

Seven offices worldwide

Water, Local Agenda 21, CCP

Cities for Climate Protection Campaign (CCP)

140 U.S. Cities & Counties

Created by Elected Officials

•Climate change is affecting communities NOW

•Local governments bear burden of social & financial impacts

•Cumulative local action has impact on global climate

Cities for Climate Protection Campaign (CCP)

Last Ice Age

Previous Warm Era

• Temp rise more in next 100 years than last 10,000• Human activities accelerate climate change• Burning fossil fuels releases carbon dioxide

Cities for Climate Protection Campaign (CCP)

US Global Change Research Team:

Impacts of climate change will be significant for Americans and disruptions are likely

• Not political or partisan

• Only debate - how fast

What Can Cities Do to Stop Global Warming?

Transportation and Planning

Energy Use

Local government affects all major sources of global warming pollution

Solid Waste

CCP Methodology

Five milestones:

• Conduct emissions inventory• Set emissions reduction target• Develop Local Action Plan to

meet local target• Implement Action Plan

Strategies• Monitor & report on progress

140 U.S. Cities & Counties CCP Participants

• Represent 44+ million people

• 16 % of U.S. GHG Emissions

• 72 Greenhouse Gas emissions inventories

• 31 Local Action Plans to reduce GHG emissions

• Software

• Training sessions

• Technical assistance

• Professional network

• Interactive website

• Publications

What ICLEI Provides

Multiple Benefits of Climate Protection

• Improve air quality

• Improve public health

• Reduce municipal operating costs

• Reduce traffic congestion

• Develop local economy

• Improve quality of urban life

LED Traffic Signals Philadelphia, PA

• Comprehensive LED traffic signals

• Annual carbon dioxide reduction: 41,490 tons

• Annual savings: $800,000

Cool RoofsTucson, AZ

•Municipal service center Cool roof coating

•Annual Btu savings: 400 million

•Annual eCo2 reductions: 114 tons

•Annual energy savings: $4,000

•6 year payback

•Fixed existing leaks

District Heating & Cooling Saint Paul, MN

• Downtown buildings share a central heating and cooling plant

• Far greater efficiency: CO2, SO2, and NOx emissions reduced by over 75%

• Reduces capital, maintenance,

and energy expense for downtown tenants

Cops on Bikes Los Angeles, CA

• 250 bike officers eliminate 1,500 tons of CO2 per year

• 15% productivity increase for traffic officers

• Improves morale and community relations

• 15 bikes for traffic officers will save $350,000 in vehicle costs over 5 years

Integrated Waste Management

Alachua Co., FL

• Annual per capita waste down from .92 tons of waste in 1990 to .65 tons in 2000

• 62,300 tons of waste per

year diverted from landfill

• 91,930 tons of eCO2 per year reduced

International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives

(ICLEI)

“Sustainable development should be in the hands of local government, because we do it every day. We’re all in this together. We need to put our arms around the earth.”Mayor James Garner, Hempstead, NY

"The announcement of joining Cities for Climate Protection is another step on our path to a better environment."

Mayor Gary Doty, Duluth, MN

"The ICLEI program is the greatest piece of practical environmentalism I've seen."City Councilmember Jane Bender, Santa Rosa, CA

Contact Information

Susan Ode

Outreach Director

ICLEI Cities for Climate Protection-US

Email: [email protected]

Phone: (510) 540-8843 x 311

Website: www.iclei.org/us