U.S. Cities, States Working To Slow Climate Change
Washington â€" Through legislation and community projects, U.S. cities and states are taking actions to address and mitigate climate change. Leaders of some of these governments shared their experiences with members of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works during a March 1 hearing. "States are currently the leaders in addressing climate change," New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine said in his prepared testimony to the committee. Some states have done so by passing legislation aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Scientists have shown that the accumulation of greenhouse gases contributes to global warming.
(Media-Newswire.com) - Washington – Through legislation and community projects, U.S. cities and states are taking actions to address and mitigate climate change. Leaders of some of these governments shared their experiences with members of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works during a March 1 hearing.
"States are currently the leaders in addressing climate change," New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine said in his prepared testimony to the committee. Some states have done so by passing legislation aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Scientists have shown that the accumulation of greenhouse gases contributes to global warming. ( See related article. )
Corzine issued an executive order February 13 that sets statewide targets for stabilizing New Jersey's greenhouse gas emissions at 1990 levels by 2020. Capping these emissions will support the state's economic growth by creating new markets for clean-energy technologies and spur technical innovation, Corzine said.
The California Global Warming Solutions Act, signed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger in September 2006, outlines a plan to cut the state's carbon dioxide emissions. California also is planning outreach programs to educate California’s industries on how best to achieve these reductions, Speaker of the California Assembly Fabian Nunez said.
Some states are forming partnerships to examine climate issues that affect their regions. The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative ( RGGI ) is a partnership that is working to develop a plan to reduce carbon dioxide emissions in the northeastern United States. Currently, seven states -- Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York and Vermont -- are participating in the RGGI effort. Legislation was signed in April 2006 that requires Maryland to become a full participant in the process by June 30, 2007. In addition, the District of Columbia, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, the Eastern Canadian Provinces and New Brunswick are observers in the process.
As part of the Western Regional Climate Action Initiative, Oregon, California, Washington state, New Mexico and Arizona also have agreed to work together to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in their region.
Cities also are taking steps to address climate change. The bipartisan U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement, signed by 409 mayors representing cities throughout the United States of varying sizes, commits leaders to take action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in their own communities. The agreement was passed unanimously by the U.S. Conference of Mayors in June 2005.
"We are not just signing a piece of paper," Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels said in his prepared testimony, "We are transforming our cities into laboratories for climate protection … we are making a difference, laying the groundwork for strong federal policies and programs."
Cities are doing this by investing in public transportation, making it safer for people to walk to work and school, using more hybrid vehicles and re-using methane gas at landfills and wastewater treatment plants, Nickels said.
Seattle is using renewable energy resources and encouraging businesses to do the same. Cruise ships that dock in Seattle's port can hook up to the city's power grid, a step that allows ships to turn off their engines while docked, thus reducing their fuel consumption and eliminating diesel emissions.
In the Des Moines, Iowa, Police Department, officers now use hybrid vehicles. Municipal buildings have been upgraded to be more energy-efficient by improving roof insulation and replacing light bulbs and windows with ones that reduce electricity consumption. These improvements, according to Des Moines Mayor Frank Cownie, are being done as part of previously planned building upgrades, meaning the city does not have to allocate extra funds for these projects.
In addition, Des Moines is improving its public transportation system and trail system, making it easier for citizens to find alternatives to driving. The city also is adding more bike lanes to its streets. Des Moines has recovered enough methane from its solid waste landfill to provide electricity for 10,000 homes, Cownie said. This electricity is sold, providing the city with more revenue.
Although many of Des Moines' programs are aimed at improving the local government's energy efficiency, "the next step is to help our residents to recognize the environmental and economic benefits of practicing energy conservation," Cownie said. Steps citizens can take include using compact fluorescent light bulbs, keeping houses cooler in winter and warmer in summer, purchasing vehicles that use biofuels or hybrid technology, taking the bus to work, carpooling, or planting trees. These steps save money and protect resources for future generations, Cownie said.
Citizens of Dover, Ohio, are taking some of these steps. The city of about 13,000 people has been designated a "Tree City USA" for 26 years in a row because of its efforts to plant new trees. Over the past 26 years, more than 15,000 trees have been planted.
The Dover government also regularly sends energy conservation tips to its residents in their monthly utility bills. Additionally, the city has replaced more than 78 percent of its street lights with energy-efficient lights.
The full text of the leaders' testimonies and a link to a webcast of the hearing are available on the Web site of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works.
For more information, see Climate Change and Clean Energy.
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