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Milwaukee's Mayor Barrett and Fellow Great Lakes Mayors Make Declaration on Water Sustainability
by City of MilwaukeePhoto credit: Marcus Obal
Today, Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, who was joined by other mayors from the U.S. and Québec, made a "Declaration on Water Sustainability" and committed to common sustainable water management practices to protect the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence, the largest source of surface fresh water on earth. Also at the bi-national conference of the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative, Mayor Barrett was elected chairman of the board of directors and will serve a one-year term.
“Today, my fellow mayors and I made an important declaration on water sustainability to protect the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence through our cities’ daily operations and long-term investments,” said Mayor Tom Barrett, Chair of the Cities Initiative. “Together, the mayors of the Cities Initiative are making a difference in the future health and prosperity of the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence region and are showing leadership globally in sustainable water management.”
Best Practices for Cities on Water Management
Earlier today, Mayor Tom Barrett also served on the Municipal Water Management Panel. In support of the ‘Declaration on Water Sustainability’, the Cities Initiative released a report on Sustainable Municipal Water Management, with best practices from members, along with a method for evaluating and publicly reporting on progress on common actions by cities across the basin. Members will be asked to present their public reports on sustainable water management at our next annual general meeting in June 2013.
View Sustainable Municipal Water Management Report (pdf)
Facing Challenges of Climate Change, Water Scarcity, and Urbanization
“In the face of climate change, increased urbanization and dwindling water supply in some parts of the globe, we must never take the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence, the world’s largest source of surface fresh water, for granted,” said Mayor Régis Labeaume of the Québec Metropolitan Community, and Vice-Chair of the Cities Initiative. “As water managers, cities have a responsibility to be water-wise and report publicly on our progress in managing this globally threatened resource.”
For more information on the annual general meeting, please visit www.glslcities.org/annual-meetings/2012.cfm.
The Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative (www.glslcities.org) is a binational coalition of 90 mayors and other local officials that works actively with federal, state, tribal, first nation and provincial governments and other stakeholders to advance the protection, restoration and promotion of the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River basin.
