2007-05-22_PWETC_AgendaPacket - Laserfiche WebLink

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tj, City of Seattle Greg Nickels, Mayor US Mayors Climate Protection Agreement How many mayors have signed the Agreement? As of January 18, 2007, 367 mayors from both political parties representing over 55 million Americans in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. have signed on. Mayors of seven of the ten largest US cities have signed along with mid-size and smaller cities. What does the Agreement do? Mayors who sign on to the Agreement are making a commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in their own cities and communities to 7% below 1990 levels by 2012 through actions like increasing energy efficiency, reducing vehicle miles traveled, maintaining healthy urban forests, reducing sprawl and promoting use of clean, renewable energy resources. The Resolution also encourages the federal government to assist cities in sharing best practices on local climate protection programs. The Agreement also calls for Congress to pass legislation that sets meaningful timelines and limits on emissions through a flexible, market-based cap and trade system. What is the connection to the US Conference of Mayors? The US Conference of Mayors (USCM) unanimously endorsed the Agreement in June 2005 and now urges all mayors to participate. A partnership of the USCM and ICLEI Local Governments for Sustainability (ICLEI) was formed to help participating cities implement the Agreement and to track progress. A Mayors Council on Climate Protection has formed under the auspices of the USCM that will provide oversight and work on climate protection policy at the federal level. What's happened since the USCM Endorsement? Cities throughout the country are taking action on climate disruption. In addition to the US Mayors Climate Protection Agreement, there's been a lot of other activity, such as: . Coordinated state leadership in the Northeast (the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative) and in California to set emissions targets and implement cap-and-trade systems. . Major business leaders, including several Fortune 500 Companies like GE, DuPont and Wal-Mart have made strong commitments to clean energy and emissions reductions. . The US Mayors Climate Action Handbook (www.iclei.orq/us). a short resource guide for mayors to take climate action was launched. . Building on the Mayors Climate Protection Agreement, the US Conference of Mayors endorsed the 2030 Challenge, Why is this agreement important to mayors? . Mayors recognize that climate disruption is a distinctly local issue and that action is urgent. Cities throughout the US are already feeling major climate impacts-and citizens turn to their local governments first for help during droughts, extreme storm events, dangerous heat waves, floods, and wildfires. . Mayors know that actions to reduce global warming pollution provide additional benefits that are important to the quality of life in American cities, including cleaner air, decreased dependence on imported oil and gas, more livable and economically vibrant communities, healthy urban forests and reduced energy bills. . Mayors understand the needs of their constituents. Public opinion polls demonstrate that citizens across the country know climate disruption is happening (more than 85%, according to a Time/Stanford poll in April 2006)-and they are calling for quick action. . Mayors know that taking action now reduces the impacts - and costs - of climate disruption. Visit www.seatt/e.aovlmavorlclimate for more information, including participation forms, media coverage, climate resource links and the latest list of signers.