On Monday, August 25, 2008, ICLEI USA’s Executive Director Michelle Wyman shared a stage with Robert Kennedy Jr., Professor David Orr (Oberlin College) and Bill Becker (Presidential Climate Action Project) at the Big Tent, a political side event organized in Denver to coincide with the Democratic National Convention. The panel, “Climate Problems and Solutions: Local to Global,” gave ICLEI the opportunity to represent the action and leadership of local governments and to outline local government priorities in federal climate policy.

In her remarks on behalf of hundreds of local governments across the United States, Michelle emphasized that local governments must be invited to the table by the next president and engaged as advisers and experts who can help the president develop a highly effective policy agenda that will ensure swift and deep reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.

“This opportunity allowed me, together with esteemed colleagues, to amplify the voices of the more than 450 cities, towns, and counties who are members of ICLEI,” said Michelle. “This was an effective, nonpartisan forum for ICLEI to help outline the priorities, based on more than 15 years of action, that local government leaders anticipate from the next president and the next Congress.”

“Energy and climate issues have taken center stage in this election,” she added, “and whoever occupies the White House next year will have the clear imperative to address these issues in a swift and substantive manner.”