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US Conference of Mayors Climate Protection Summit
On November 1 & 2, 2007, America’s mayors took center stage in the effort to stop global warming as they gathered in Seattle for an unprecedented summit to spur local and federal action on climate change.
Hosted by the U.S. Conference of Mayors, the Seattle summit was the largest-ever meeting of American mayors devoted solely to climate protection.
Learn more about the Climate Protection Summit
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| WHAT IS THE U.S. MAYORS’ CLIMATE PROTECTION AGREEMENT?
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Climate disruption is an urgent threat to the environmental and economic
health of our communities. Many cities, in this country and abroad, already
have strong local policies and programs in place to reduce global warming
pollution, but more action is needed at the local, state, and federal levels
to meet the challenge.
On February 16, 2005 the Kyoto Protocol, the international
agreement to address climate disruption, became law for the 141 countries
that have ratified it to date. On that day, Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels
launched the US Mayors Climate Protection Agreement to
advance the goals of the Kyoto Protocol through leadership and action.
Two years later, The U.S.Conference of Mayors launched the Mayors Climate Protection Center to administer and track the agreement, among its other activities. By November 1, 2007, there were more than 710 signatories to the Agreement.
Under the Agreement, participating cities commit to take the following three
actions:
- Strive to meet or beat the Kyoto Protocol targets in their own communities, through actions ranging from anti-sprawl land-use policies to urban forest restoration projects to public information campaigns;
- Urge their state governments, and the federal government, to enact policies and programs to meet or beat the greenhouse gas emission reduction target suggested for the United States in the Kyoto Protocol -- 7% reduction from 1990 levels by 2012; and
- Urge the U.S. Congress to pass the bipartisan greenhouse gas reduction legislation, which would establish a national emission trading system
Links
Climate
Protection Agreement and Resolution ( US Conference of Mayors site)
Mayor Nickels’ Web
conference
Media Coverage
United Nations
Background on Climate Change
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| WHO IS INVOLVED?
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Cities large and small, from all 50
states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico have
signed the Agreement.
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To date more than 800 mayors have signed onto the agreement. To view these names, click here.
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| HOW CAN I PARTICIPATE?
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If your city is interested in signing on to the US
Mayor’s Climate Protection Agreement , we urge you to complete
the participation
form and return it via email to brosenberg@usmayors.org.
You can also fax your form to (202) 429-0422.
In addition to the US
Conference of Mayors, there are several national non-profits
that are active in assisting local and national leaders on environmental
issues. For more information on what others are doing, and how they
might assist you on getting your leaders involved, please visit: Climate
Solutions, Natural Resources Defense
Council (NRDC), Sierra Club, Kyoto
USA, the Climate
Crisis Coalition, The
Virtual March, or ICLEI.
CONTACT
For more information, or to sign on to the Mayor’s Climate
Agreement, please contact the US Conference of Mayors Climate Protection
Center:
Phone: (202) 861-6782
Email: brosenberg@usmayors.org
1620 I Street, NW
Washington , DC 20006
Fax: (202) 429-0422
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WHERE CAN I FIND MORE INFORMATION?
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Learn more about the effects of climate
disruption and general climate information, a range
of actions and best practices that reduce emissions, what
Seattle is doing to meet the Kyoto target, and what
other cities are doing.
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Media Coverage
Note: some articles require a subscription to access
- Leadership & the Environment - Mayors Take the Lead - Newsweek, April 16, 2007
- Climate
of hope: US cities lead the way - BBC News, February 15, 2007
- Mayors
unite on the 'green' front - USA Today -
Jan 31, 2007
- Press Release: Mayor Launches Major Drive for Immediate Federal Climate Action - January 25, 2007
- In
emissions battle, US cities vie to be 'greenest' - Christian
Science Monitor, October 25, 2006
- Mayors
pick up where Washington failed on Kyoto - International
Herald Tribune, October, 23, 2006
- La
révolte des maires américains - Le Monde October 11, 2006
- Seattle's
green mayor brings Kyoto home -- Reuters, August 4, 2006
- Laurie
David: Ticked Off in Seattle: A Tale of Two Washingtons -- The Huffington Post, April, 2006
- A
Green Santa Monica -- Santa Monica Mirror, April 20, 2006
- Press Conference:
Green Ribbon Commission on Climate Protection
 --Seattle Channel,
March
24, 2006
- In
Our View - Mayors Take Lead -- Vancouver Columbian, March 28, 2006
- How
to Seize the Initiative Climate change cover story -- Time Magazine, March
24, 2006
- Spreading
the Word on Global Warming --
ABC World News Tonight, March 24, 2006
- Seattle
to Kyoto: you can't get there by car -- Seattle Times, March 24, 2006
- City commits
to big cut in greenhouse gas emissions -- Seattle PI, March 24, 2006
- Seattle
Cools Down Global Warming, - Seattle PI, March 22, 2006
- Climate
of change in Seattle, Seattle PI, March 17, 2006
- U.S. grassroots warms up to global-warming fight Globe and Mail, December 3, 2005
- Seattle
Tackles Greenhouse Gases, NPR, November 28, 2005
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Dateline Earth Seattle PI [Blog], November 23, 2005
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Greg Nickels, The Pied Piper from "Warriors & Heroes -
Twenty-five leaders who are fighting to stave off the planetwide catastrophe" Rolling
Stone Magazine, November, 2005
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A rapid warm-up for the Northwest Christian Science Monitor, October 23, 2005
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Clearing The Air PBS, August 15, 2005
- Seattle leads the US in rallying cities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions BBC News, August 15, 2005
- Major
Cities' Efforts to Curb Global Warming The News Hour with Jim Lehrer,
August 15, 2005
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U.S. Mayors Abide by Kyoto Treaty PBS, August 8, 2005
- Seattle leads cities in reducing greenhouse gases Aspen Times, July 23 2005
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Blue Skies, Green Cities IPS, July 19 2005
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Mayors brainstorm green ideas North Lake Tahoe Bonanza, July 15 2005
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The Revolution will be Localized Grist Magazine, July 14 2005
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Mayors brainstorm green ideas A.P, July 14 2005
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Mayors showcase 'green cities' at meeting Seattle P.I., July 12 2005
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Climate issues heat up Desert News, July 10 2005
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State to tackle climate change Arizona Republic, July 10 2005
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Missouri mayors commit to combating global warming Joplin Independent,
July 8 2005
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At G8 we'll be watching our leaders on global warming Whitier Daily News, July 5 2005
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Seattle's a hothouse of green power Houston Press, June 29, 2005
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Not Easy Being Green Houston Press, June 23, 2005
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U.S. mayors take stand against pollution Lansing Pulse, June 22, 2005
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Mayors taking up mandate on Kyoto Pasadena Star News, June 19, 2005
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Bush May Be Trying To Pretend That Global Warming Isn't Real The Record,
June 16, 2005
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Political Climate Change The Stranger, June 16, 2005
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City City Bang Bang Grist Magazine, June 15, 2005
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US mayors support Nickels' climate plan Seattle P.I., June 14, 2005
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World's Mayors Sign Global Warming Mitigation Plan E/The Environmental
Magazine, June 14, 2005
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Mayors flex their opinions Long Beach Press Telegram, June 13, 2005
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Nickels pushing pro-Kyoto resolution to mayors The Seattle Times, June
9, 2005
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By any means necessary The Daily Texan, June 6, 2005
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Global-warming fight goes grass roots The Christian Science Monitor, June
6, 2005
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Cities lead the way to greener world New Scientist, June 4, 2005
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Schwarzenegger unveiling global warming plan at UN conference AP, June
1, 2005
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World's mayors seek to fight global warming, make cities greener AP, May
30, 2005
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California's record on pollution control acts as role model for city leaders Financial
Times, May 22, 2005
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Kyoto treaty embraced at local level
Denver Post, May 22, 2005
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Beyond Kyoto
Living on Earth, May 20, 2005
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Maui, Big Isle mayors join national eco-pact
Honolulu Advertiser, May 17, 2005
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US cities snub Bush and sign up to Kyoto
The Guardian [London], May 17, 2005
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U.S. Mayors Support Global Warming Treaty
ABC News [AP], May 16, 2005
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US mayors pledge action against global warming
New Zealand Herald, May 16, 2005
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Seattle leads U.S. cities joining Kyoto Protocol
International Herald News Tribune, May 15, 2005
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Bipartisan Action on Climate Change
Charging Rino [Blog], May 15,2005
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Rebuffing Bush, 132 Mayors Embrace Kyoto Rules
New York Times, May 14, 2005 (subscription needed)
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Companies make peace with Kyoto Protocol LA Weekly, March 4-10, 2005
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American Cities Show Solidarity with Kyoto Signatories e/The Environmental Magazine, March 2, 2005
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Cooperation in the Air Los Angeles Times - February 28, 2005
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Santa Monica Joins Initiative to Lower Emissions Santa Monica Look Out News - February 25, 2005
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Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce - February 23, 2005 (Note: need Subscription to access)
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Seattle Dreams of 'Green' Team Seattle PI - February 17, 2005
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Activist touts local initiative to cut pollution Seattle Times - February 17, 2005
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Seattle mayor promotes climate protection KTVB.com (Idaho News) - February 17, 2005
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Mayor Is on a Mission to Warm U.S. Cities to the Kyoto Protocol L.A. Times - February 22, 2005
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| HISTORY & BACKGROUND
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On February 16, 2005 the Kyoto Protocol
took effect in the 141 countries that ratified it. That day Mayor Nickels
challenged mayors across the country to join Seattle in taking local action
to reduce global warming pollution.
On March 30, 2005, 9 mayors
representing more than 3 million Americans, joined together to invite cities
from across the country to take additional actions to significantly reduce
global warming pollution. Read
the letter they sent to more than 400 other US mayors or the endorsed
agreement with signature page.
On June 13, 2005, the Mayors Climate Protection
Agreement was
passed unanimously by the U.S. Conference of Mayors. Watch
the video feature  Mayors
inside and outside of the Conference continue to formalize their commitment
by signing on to the agreement.
December 4-8, 2005 Mayor Nickels traveled to Montreal,
Canada for the United Nations Climate Change Conference. Representatives
from all over the world gathered for international meetings and negotiations
on climate protection.
Read
the Mayor's Blog Entries from the trip
Letter
to Mayors from Mayor Nickels | FAQ
on Montreal Events
To date, more than 600 mayors representing over 67 million Americans
have accepted the challenge. You can read worldwide
headlines about this locally-started initiative.
The Mayor released Seattle's Climate Action Plan in fall 2006, now being
implemented by the Office of Sustainability & Environment. Mayor Nickels
continues to work on these and other environmental issues in Seattle. His Environmental
Action Agenda includes City efforts to improve healthy habitats and
clean water, to increase sustainable forests, and to reduce paper use and
increase recycling.
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