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Is Your City a “Cool City”?
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2006

Mayors Step Up to Address Global Warming Despite Federal Inaction. Learn How to Help Your City Become a “Cool City.”

Frustrated by stalling on the federal level, local leaders are moving forward with innovative energy solutions that cut our dependence on oil, benefit public health and save tax payer dollars, Maryland boasts of four cities (Annapolis, Baltimore, and Chevy Chase) whose mayors have joined a nationwide effort to curb global warming pollution in their communities.

These elected officials are taking the lead with the “U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement” initiated by Seattle Mayor Greg Nickel. Introduced on February 16, 2005 –the same day that the Kyoto Protocol international global warming treaty took effect in 141 nations worldwide—the agreement is gathering support around the country and has earned the backing of the U.S. Conference of Mayors. To date, more than 220 mayors representing 43 million Americans in 39 states have signed on, pledging to reduce global warming carbon dioxide (CO2) pollution in their cities to 7% below 1990 levels by 2012.

The Sierra Club has launched a national Cool Cities campaign to encourage mayors to sign the Mayors’ agreement and to put into place smart energy solutions in their cities. Curbing citywide global warming pollution means greening municipal vehicle fleets with hybrid and other cleaner engines, making building energy-efficient, and investing safe renewable energy such as solar and wind power.  In Annapolis, for example, the City Council passed a resolution in October that calls for the establishment of an Energy Efficiency Task Force “to study the application and recommend the implementation of energy efficient standards to reduce costs, reduce energy consumption, and to reduce our reliance upon foreign petroleum”, while at the same time reducing air pollution created by the burning of fuels.

We need more Maryland mayors to become leaders to curb global warming.   Find out more about how you can get involved in the Cool Cities campaign.

Sierra Club Cool Cities Training

WHEN: Sunday June 25th 2006

10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

WHERE: College Park City Hall
4500 Knox Rd, College Park

BRING: a bag lunch. Drinks and snacks provided.

Directions

Car:  495 Beltway to exit College Park Route 1 South. Pass UMCP campus on right. Pass the southern most UMCP entrance, College Avenue. Turn left at next light on to Knox Road. City Hall is on left.

Transit: Green Line to College Park Metro Station. Exit east side facing Paint Branch Parkway. Take #83 bus marked "Rhode Island" to Baltimore Avenue/Route 1 & Hartwick road. Or exit west side for a 10 minute walk through the neighborhood; go 1 block up Calvert Road, take 1st right on Dartmouth, then 1st left on Knox Road. Go 6 short blocks.

Information

301-277-7111 www.maryland.sierraclub.org

You can also go to the Sierra Club’s Cool Cities website at www.sierraclub.org/coolcities and read the “Sierra Club’s Guide to Local Global Warming Solutions” and other resources. Then, email Global Warming energy staffer Colleen Sarna at colleen.sarna@sierraclub.org to request the Cool Cities Activist Toolkit, which contains everything you need to organize your local campaign.

Together we can solve global warming one city at a time.

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