Small local governments may face significant challenges in managing energy, climate change mitigation, climate change adaptation, and sustainability efforts. Local officials are juggling many issues and dealing with competing priorities, while often times working with extremely limited resources. This chapter, which contains links to additional chapters, provides guidance on how to undertake initiatives following ICLEI’s Five Milestone process for climate change mitigation, climate change adaptation, and sustainability.

 

Tips to Begin the  Process

• Join ICLEI–Local Governments for Sustainability USA and adopt a resolution within six months of joining ICLEI to affirm the community’s commitment to climate protection and sustainability action, to raise community awareness, and to provide an opportunity for public discussion about local priorities related to climate protection and/or sustainability. The sample resolution is designed to be customized to match local circumstances and priorities

• Find a champion or leader committed to climate change action. Hiring a local climate change coordinator may not always be necessary or feasible for your community. This person could be an elected official or staff member within the local government that has a strong interest in the issue and is willing to drive local action on a volunteer basis or as part of their current position. A dedicated volunteer or committee can be just as effective in helping your community succeed with your climate change projects.

• Establish a volunteer committee made up of city officials, residents, students, city/town employees, local businesses, and organizations.

• Appoint a spokesperson to town/city council or other elected officials that can bring awareness to climate change issues.

 

Connecting to ICLEI’s Five-Milestone Methodology

ICLEI’s climate mitigation work uses a Five-Milestone process to assist local governments as they work to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, develop local climate action plans and focus on sustainability. The Five Milestones for Climate Mitigation are:

Milestone One: Conduct a baseline emissions inventory and forecast
Milestone Two: Adopt an emissions reduction target
Milestone Three: Develop a local climate action plan
Milestone Four: Implement policies and measure
Milestone Five: Monitor and verify results

 

ICLEI provides software tools, technical assistance, guidebooks and toolkits, and many other resources to members to help their local government engage in effective actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while promoting sustainability. Below are Small Communities Toolkit resources for each Milestone that can assist local governments as they work through the Five Milestone process.

Milestone One Resources

• Developing Partnerships
• Education and Outreach

 

Milestone Two Resources

• Community Engagement
• Planning Resources

 

Milestone Three Resources

• Education and Outreach
• Community Engagement
• Developing Partnerships
• Ordinances and Policies
• Planning Resources

Milestone Four Resources

• Education and Outreach
• Community Engagement
• Developing Partnerships
• Ordinances and Policies
• Financial Resources
• Planning Resources

 

Milestone Five Resources

• Education and Outreach
• Community Engagement

 

Education and Outreach >>