Advisory: More than 70 Communities Join National Conversation on Climate Action this Earth Day

Mayors, County Executive and other local government leaders are using Earth Day 2009 to do more than just green fairs, concerts and lecture series – they are engaging their communities in authentic, action-oriented events as part of the National Conversation on Climate Action. With the struggling economy, job losses, energy concerns and climate change dominating headlines, they are seizing this critical moment to inform and inspire meaningful conversations and community actions.

WHO: Local government leaders and their communities from across the country. The event is led by ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability, Earth Day Network, Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies, and AmericaSpeaks.

WHAT: National Conversation on Climate Action – a unique model of community engagement and collective action

WHEN: April 22 (Earth Day)

WHERE: More than 70 communities across the country. A list of all events is available at: http://events.climateconversation.org/events/upcoming

*Summaries of key events in the following locations are below:
Greenburgh, NY; Hennepin County, MN; Houston, TX; Jackson, WY; Lexington, KY; Los Angeles County, CA; Sarasota County, FL; Sumter, SC; and Tucson, AZ.

WHY: Local communities have been the incubators for leadership, innovation and change on climate and energy issues. They take center stage on Earth Day in an effort to galvanize support for and active participation in addressing global climate change and related energy and economic issues.

CONTACT: Annie Strickler (ICLEI), 510.844.0699 x328 annie.strickler@iclei.org 

For more information visit www.climateconversation.org

*Spotlight Conversations: 

Greenburgh, New York
Greenburgh's Climate Action Task Force will present the municipal Climate Action Plan for discussion with elected officials, key decision makers and citizen activists in the community. Tria Case, Executive Director for the Center for Sustainable Energy (CSE) at Bronx Community College and Andrew Spano, Westchester County Executive will be speaking at the event to share information on the most recent climate change policies and legislation on the federal, state & local levels, as well as what is already being done throughout Westchester County.

Hennepin County, Minnesota
The goal of the event is to identify key actions the county can take to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the areas of residential and commercial energy use, energy supply, transportation, fleets, land use, waste management and public education.

Speakers include Kent Cavender-Bares, Climate Central, from the Institute on the Environment at the University of Minnesota; Mike Opat, Hennepin County Chairman; and Peter McLaughlin, Commissioner. Focus groups will cover nine topical areas: Business Energy Conservation, Renewable Energy, District Energy, Green Energy Corridor, Transportation - Active Living, Natural Resources - Carbon sequestration, Waste Management, Public Ed/Citizen Engagement, and Green Jobs.  Each focus group will identify key actions the County can take to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, as well as how to maximize the partnership between the County and the University of Minnesota. 

Houston, Texas
The city will showcase how it can help residents save money on energy bills each month by taking steps to green their homes and businesses. It will be an opportunity for people to engage in meaningful dialogue with other concerned citizens to build a more cost-effective, sustainable future for the community, get expert advice and assistance to design personal energy action plans, discuss ways to engage neighbors to take similar actions and learn how the city is investing in a more sustainable future and saving taxpayer money. The city is partnering with University of Houston Office of Sustainability and the M.D. Anderson Memorial Library on the event.

Jackson, Wyoming (Teton County)
The Jackson Spotlight Conversation is focusing on taking that critical step from concept, planning and resolution to actual on the ground action. Rys Roth, Co-founder of and Director of Strategic Innovations for Climate Solutions, will present the keynote address, which will be followed by a series of facilitated breakout sessions.

Lexington, Kentucky
The Conversation will be devoted to four overarching topics: current climate action work in the County, what attendees can do to reduce their impact on climate change, what attendees would like the local climate action plan to include, as well as tools and resources available to attendees. During the Conversation, attendees will learn how to 1. quantify their carbon emissions, 2. reduce their consumption and buy green , and 3. take advantage of energy efficiency improvement tax credits.  The dialogue will be moderated by staff from the Kentucky Office of Energy policy. The keynote remarks will be given by Dan Coody, former Mayor of Fayetteville, Arkansas, and a leader on local climate and sustainability action.

Los Angeles County, California
Los Angeles County is expecting 300 people at their Earth Day event, “Awareness. Action. Change. Uniting to Go Green.” The event is open to the public and will feature several keynote addresses, roundtable discussions and breakout sessions designed to truly engage members of Los Angeles County’s communities in the County’s climate and energy plans. Keynote remarks will be delivered by three experts in climate change and sustainability:  Michael Crooke, PhD, a strategic consultant and former CEO of Patagonia; Commissioner Michael Peevey, President, California Public Utilities Commission; and Albert Mendoza, CEO and President of Coalition for Clean Air. Other speakers include: Anne Shen Smith, San Diego Gas & Electric and Southern California Gas Co, Senior Vice President of Customer Services; Los Angeles County Supervisors; Art Leahy, Metro CEO; and Eric Garcetti, LA City Council President. Workshop topics at the day-long event include: What’s new in Energy Efficiency/Renewable Energy?; How will the Carbon Emissions Market Work?; Planning and Regional Transportation; Climate Change and Public Agency Action; Education and Workforce Development; Living Green; and Freedom Gardens. More information: http://planning.lacounty.gov/ncca.

Sarasota County, Florida
Sarasota County is partnering with SCOPE and the Cities of Sarasota, Venice and North Port to host a Community Conversation on Energy and Climate on April 22 from 1-5pm. The community will come together to hear Philip Fairey, Deputy Director of the Florida Solar Energy Center, discuss clean energy solutions for our area and to discuss government and individual actions that can be taken to move our community toward sustainable energy solutions. A county representative will then update the audience on Sarasota’s current and planned climate protection efforts before breaking them into small groups to identify and flesh out key climate protection measures. The full group will reconvene and vote as a group, a process that will fully engage participants and help inform Sarasota’s climate action plan. Additional information is available at www.scgov.net/Sustainability/EnergyConversation

Sumter, South Carolina
On Earth Day 2009, The City of Sumter South Carolina and the historic Sumter Opera House will host its first Community Conversation focused on sustainability, climate change, energy, and environmental awareness. An Education and Action partnership between local industry, government, and the community is the planned primary theme. Presentations will be provided by Mayor Joseph McElveen; Mark Hall, Pollution Prevention Manager at Shaw Air Force Base; and Dave Davidson, Business Sustainability Center Manager at Eaton Industries.   Dr. J. Matthew Sleeth, author of Serve God, Save the Planet, will give the keynote address.

Tucson, Arizona
The Tucson Spotlight Conversation aims to educate the public about the realities and challenges of climate change; solicit the public’s values, perceptions, and priorities regarding climate change, mitigation and adaptation; and obtain information from the public that can be used to inform the City’s General Plan update, the County’s Comprehensive Plan update, and the University’s sustainability plan. Breakout sessions will focus on climate change as it relates to the following topics: Human Health/Food Security; Drought Preparedness; Affordable Housing/Building Energy Use; Mobility; and Jobs. More information: www.tucsonaz.gov/ocsd/climateaction