On February 23, 2007, Mayor Coleman signed the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement, committing the city of Columbus to reduce its global warming pollution by 7% below 1990 levels by 2012. This event marked a major success for Sierra Club’s Building Environmental Communities (BEC) program, focused upon working with the City Administration to make Columbus a “Cool City”. We congratulate the Sierra Club BEC volunteers and staff for their efforts in mobilizing public support for this initiative, and we applaud Mayor Coleman and members of the Columbus City Council for making this historic commitment.

The Sierra Club BEC launched its “Cool Cities” campaign in early 2006. The campaign is focused upon positive steps that cities can take to decrease energy waste and reduce global warming emissions by increasing energy efficiency, using cleaner transportation options, and relying upon renewable energy sources. BEC leaders introduced the concept of “Cool Cities” and the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement to the Columbus Administration, meeting with the city’s Environmental Steward and other key officials. At the same time, the BEC launched a public outreach campaign, educating fellow citizens about the need to take action on global warming through events, community tabling opportunities and door-to-door communication. Individuals learned what they could do at home to limit global warming emissions, and signed postcards to the Mayor, requesting that Columbus become a “Cool City”.

Through Mayor Coleman’s Get Green campaign, the Administration was already engaged in a number of efforts to make Columbus a greener and more energy efficient place to live. From investing in green businesses, to constructing LEED certified city buildings and improving parks and natural areas, the City had begun important environmental initiatives. With evident public support for reducing global warming emissions, the Mayor’s signing on to the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement was a logical next step for the city.

Today, Columbus is a regional leader in committing to reduce global warming emissions and develop a clean, green government and local economy. With Columbus as a model, the BEC is taking the “Cool Cities” campaign to other Central Ohio cities. The campaign educates individuals on what we can each do to reduce our carbon emissions and mobilizes citizens to make global warming solutions a priority for their communities and their local government. Through building our local environmental communities, we can significantly reduce global warming impacts in the Central Ohio region.