FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ICLEI Welcomes Hawaii County as 500th Member in the United States

Milestone Reflects Growth in Local Government Climate Action

ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability U.S.A. has welcomed Hawaii County (pop. 173,057) as the 500th member in a growing network of local governments committed to advancing climate protection and sustainability.

"We are proud to welcome Hawai‘i County as the 500^th ICLEI member in the United States and look forward to the unique perspective they will bring to our growing local government network,” said Michelle Wyman, ICLEI USA Executive Director.

Membership in ICLEI will bring technical tools and support to Hawaii County’s efforts to increase renewable energy use, install solar power systems, boost transit ridership, and foster a sustainable island culture.

As 38% of the fossil fuel use in Hawaii County is transportation, Mayor William Kenoi is committed to reducing island citizens’ carbon footprint through a development of comprehensive island transit system. 

“Together we can implement a Rural Mass Transit System second to none in the entire country,” said Kenoi.

The County already leads the state in the share of electric power generated from renewable sources 32%, met a targeted 20% increase in mass transit ridership, and includes a robust public participation element in community development planning. As a member of ICLEI, Hawai‘i County will build on these existing efforts, sharing challenges and tips for success with hundreds of fellow members and utilizing ICLEI’s staff expertise and innovative tools.

“Hawai‘i County faces unique challenges, but local leaders have made a commitment to turn those into opportunities by teaming up with ICLEI and joining a network of hundreds of other local governments,” said Wyman. “ICLEI’s strength is in the number of active and engaged members who come together to prove our motto that ‘Local Action Moves the World.’”

ICLEI membership in the U.S. grew 58% in 2008, putting the organization on pace to meet the goal of 1,000 members by 2010. Currently ICLEI members represent more than 80 million people or 26.4% of the U.S. population. Members span from the shores of Hawaii to those of Miami, Florida, up to Belfast, Maine, and over to Fairbanks North Star Borough, Alaska and everywhere in between.

As an international organization, ICLEI works with members around the world with offices on almost every major continent. In November, Mumbai, India, was welcomed as the 1,000th global member. In the U.S. ICLEI also operates regional offices generously hosted by cities and located in the city halls of Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Denver, Houston and Seattle. ICLEI's U.S. headquarters are collocated with its California office in Oakland.

“That we close out 2008 with this milestone reflects the intense desire of local governments to both identify and implement solutions that will improve their communities and contribute to the collective effort to fight global climate change,” said Wyman.

ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability (www.icleiusa.org)
ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability (ICLEI) is a membership association of local governments committed to advancing climate protection and sustainable development. Since its inception in 1990, ICLEI has grown to include 1,000 cities in the world, now 500 of which are in the United States.  

At ICLEI USA our mission is to build, serve, and drive a movement of local governments to advance deep reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and achieve tangible improvements in local sustainability. ICLEI will continue to empower local governments to set and achieve strong goals through the ongoing evolution of its programs, tools and other resources and through the establishment of comparative performance bench­marks for local action.

ICLEI members receive access to: 

• Clean Air Climate Protection (CACP) software and training
• Tools, publications and other resources
• Performance-based campaigns and initiatives
• State, regional, national and international peer networking
• Technical, policy and communications expertise and assistance
• Annual training and leadership events
• Recognition and awards
• Representation at international meetings

###