This summer has been a busy time for the Building Environmental Communities Program of the Sierra Club, particularly with regard to our Cool Cities Program.  On Sunday, June 24, more than seventy people turned out for our Cool Cities Training, to learn how to work with cities in passing and implementing the Mayors’ Climate Protection Agreement.  Sierra Club’s National Field Director for Cool Cities, Darden Rice, was on hand to lead the training and Sierra Club activists from all over Central Ohio attended.  We had representatives from several Cool Cities targets present, including Dublin, Delaware, Upper Arlington and Gahanna.  If you live in these areas and want to get involved with this exciting campaign or if you want to help make your city a Cool City, please . more about the Cool Cities Program.

The Cool Cities Training was the lead-up event to our major summer program, our Live Earth House Parties!  Live Earth took place on 7/7/07 and was created by Al Gore to bring together incredible musicians like Bon Jovi, The Police, Madonna and others in nine concerts on six continents to create global action on the climate crisis.  Here in Central Ohio, 510 people attended a dozen house parties and 60 attended a centralized event at the Short North Tavern with Columbus Green Drinks to celebrate and enjoy the historic event.  Hundreds of people also signed our 2% Pledge to reduce global warming emissions two percent per year or 80% by 2050. (Sign the Live Earth Pledge). See some of our great pictures from the event!

In July the Sierra Club joined the National Environmental Trust and the Ohio League of Conservation Voters in a rally to support the Markey-Platts bill that would tighten fuel efficiency standards in autos to 35 mpg by 2018. The bill would save Americans $61 billion in gasoline and create 241,000 jobs by 2020! We also worked with the Friends of Goodale Park and Columbus Recreation & Parks at a gardening day in Goodale Park. We partnered with the Central Ohio Group on the Summer Picnic in August.

As we head into fall, we have exciting new events with our Cool Cities Campaign including holding a town hall meeting in Upper Arlington. The Cool Cities Campaign continues to work with the City of Columbus and provide resource support as the city begins its energy audit.

The BEC has some great leadership roles available and has a stellar group of activists running the show! If you’re interested in becoming involved with us, please contact . If you are interested in working to get the mayors of Dublin, Delaware, Gahanna, Bexley, New Albany, Hilliard or Westerville to sign the US Mayors’ Climate Protection Agreement, .

Learn more at our Cool Cities presentation at the Central Ohio Group Program on Oct. 10.