Solving Global Warming One City at a Time

“Solving global warming one city at a time” is more than just a slogan. Right now cities are where the action is and where real solutions are being put to work. One of the brightest lights of this exciting movement is the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement, which is the inspiration for the Sierra Club’s Cool Cities campaign. Initiated by Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels in February 2005, the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement has been signed by 884 mayors representing millions of Americans in all 50 states (as of November 2008). These mayors have pledged to reduce global warming carbon dioxide pollution in their cities to 7 percent below 1990 levels by 2012 (the same reductions and target date called for under the Kyoto Protocol Global Warming Treaty).

The following Northeast Ohio mayors have signed the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement:

• Brooklyn, OH, Mayor Kenneth E. Patton
  "I want my grandchildren to be able to breath good clean air!"
      - Mayor Kenneth E. Patton, Brooklyn, OH
• Cleveland, OH, Mayor Frank G. Jackson
• Cleveland Heights, OH, Mayor Edward J. Kelley
• Garfield Heights, OH, Mayor Thomas J. Longo
• North Olmsted, OH, Mayor Thomas O'Grady
  "It is time for action. I am proud to join with my fellow mayors, and others, in taking action to protect our environment and our future."
      - Thomas O'Grady, North Olmsted, OH
• South Euclid, OH, Mayor Georgine Welo
• Akron, OH, Mayor Donald L. Plusquellic
• Westlake, OH, Mayor Dennis Clough

Many of the 884 mayors are moving forward with innovative energy solutions that cut our dependence on oil, benefit public health, and save taxpayer dollars. Most of these cities, however, do not yet have a real action plan to meet their reduction targets by 2012.

That’s where you come in. The Cool Cities campaign is about getting mayors around the country to sign the US Mayor’s Climate Protection Agreement and then put real policies in place that will cut heat-trapping greenhouse gases.

Follow the links on the left to learn more about the Cool Cities Campaign and how you can get involved in your city.

Photo Credit: GLERL, G. Leshkevich, 1995