US Mayors Climate Protection Act in San Diego

May 14, 2006

U.S. Climate Protection Act.

Global warming places an urgent threat on our environmental, economic and national security and the public health of our communities.

I'm setting out to get the mayor of San Diego, Jerry Sanders to sign an agreement to reduce green house gas emissions, causing global warming. When federal leadership failed to lead, mayors across the country are rising to the occasion. While 162 countries have ratified the Kyoto Protocol to address global warming, The United States has not.

Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels.. "I got ticked. I was embarrassed that our country didn't sign the Kyoto Protocol, so I committed to do something on behalf of the people of Seattle." That something is the Climate Protection Act. To date, 224 mayors - representing some 43.7 million Americans in 38 states - have joined with Mayor Nickels. Jerry Sanders has not.

The U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement, initiated by Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels, was introduced on February 16, 2005 the same day that the Kyoto Protocol international global warming treaty took effect for participating countries.

The agreement calls for Mayors of our cities to implement carbon dioxide restrictions on a local level, and is quickly gathering support around the country, recently earning the backing of the U.S. Conference of Mayors.

This is the actual Agreement:

The U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement

A. We urge the federal government and state governments to enact policies and programs to meet or beat the Kyoto Protocol target of reducing global warming pollution levels to 7% below 1990 levels by 2012, including efforts to: reduce the United States' dependence on fossil fuels and accelerate the development of clean, economical energy resources and fuel-efficient technologies such as conservation, methan recovery for energy generation, wind and solar energy, fuel cells, efficient motor vehicles, and biofuels;

B. We urge the U.S. Congress to pass the bipartisan Climate Stewardship Act
sponsored by Senators McCain and Lieberman and Representatives Gilchrist and Olver, which would create a flexible, market-based system of tradable allowances among emitting industries; and

C. We will strive to meet or exceed Kyoto Protocol targets for reducing global warming pollution by taking actions in our own operations and communities such as:

1. Inventory global warming emissions in City operations and in the
community, set reduction targets and create an action plan.

2. Adopt and enforce land-use policies that reduce sprawl, preserve open
space, and create compact, walkable urban communities;

3. Promote transportation options such as bicycle trails, commute trip
reduction programs, incentives for car pooling and public transit;

4. Increase the use of clean, alternative energy by, or example, investing in "green tags", advocating for the development of renewable energy resources, and recovering landfill methane for energy production;

5. Make energy efficiency a priority through building code improvements,
retrofitting city facilities with energy efficient lighting and urging
employees to conserve energy and save money;

6. Purchase only Energy Star equipment and appliances for City use;

7. Practice and promote sustainable building practices using the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED program or a similar system;

8. Increase the average fuel efficiency of municipal fleet vehicles; reduce the number of vehicles; launch an employee education program including anti-idling messages; convert diesel vehicles to bio-diesel;

9. Evaluate opportunities to increase pump efficiency in water and
wastewater systems; recover wastewater treatment methane for energy
production;

10. Increase recycling rates in City operations and in the community;

11. Maintain healthy urban forests; promote tree planting to increase shading and to absorb CO2; and

12. Help educate the public, schools, other jurisdictions, professional
associations, business and industry about reducing global warming
pollution.