Local Governments: Help Send a Key Message to Washington

ICLEI USA and Climate Communities have partnered to lead a special coalition of local governments committed to climate protection. Local officials from across the country have been calling on President-elect Obama and Congress to invest economic recovery dollars and long-term resources to fund local government projects that stimulate the economy, create green jobs, reduce energy consumption, and cut greenhouse gas emissions.

This effort first took shape during Local Climate Action Week (Dec. 8 to 15) -- a highly successful effort that gained national attention for hundreds of local leaders. But Local Climate Action Week was just the beginning. The initiatives launched in December 2008 must continue to be promoted in the coming months. Here's how all local governments can learn more and get involved:

• View the Climate Action Blueprint, "Empowering Local Government Climate Action: Blueprint for the Next President and 111th Congress." The Blueprint outlines the actions and policies needed from the federal government to address global climate change, all through the local government lens. This document was delivered to President-elect Obama and Congress in December. 
• Endorse the Blueprint! It's not too late for your local government elected officials to get involved and sign the Blueprint, joining hundreds of other local leaders who are making an impact on federal decision-makers.
  
• Read our fact sheet on how local governments across the United States can lead the green economy recovery.
• View a list of ready-to-go clean energy projects -- from Sacramento County, Calif. to Charlottesville, Va. -- that local governments can implement with federal green recovery dollars.
• Send us a list of your ready-to-go local government projects that can create jobs, reduce energy consumption and decrease GHG emissions. We'll present them to the national media and use them to support our advocacy efforts.
• View the Presidential Climate Action Project website Resources page, which lists the Blueprint among other key resources.
• View the local and national media coverage garnered during Local Climate Action Week.
  
• Read our press release, "Local Governments Call on President-elect Obama and Congress to Invest Economic Recovery Dollars in Local Climate Action."
• Read the letter we presented to the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.
  
• Read our media advisory about the dozens of media events that will be held across the country during Local Climate Action Week.
  
  

How Did the Climate Action Blueprint Take Shape?

On September 14-16, 2008, approximately 40 city and county officials convened at the Rockefeller family's Kykuit estate in New York to begin developing a climate action blueprint for the next President and Congress. The retreat, funded by the Rockefeller Brothers Fund, provided an opportunity for local government leaders to identify federal resources, tools and incentives they need to meet the climate change challenge.

Climate Communities and ICLEI USA have developed the blueprint to focus on national policies needed to empower local governments in promoting green buildings, increasing public transit and cleaner vehicles and fuels, fostering community-scale renewables, building green infrastructure, creating green jobs and businesses, and adapting to the impacts of climate change. The Climate Action Blueprint outlines the actions and policies needed from the federal government to address global climate change, all through the local government lens.