• In the Spotlight: Climate Communities Partnership and ICLEI Member Offer
  
• Comment Period Open: Draft Greenhouse Gas Emissions Protocol for Local Government Operations
  
• New Reports: Building Codes, Solutions, and Weather

Climate Communities Partnership and ICLEI Member Offer

ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability USA and Climate Communities, a Washington DC-based association of local governments advocating for a strong federal-local climate partnership and new federal resources to fund local action, are pleased to announce a new partnership that will strengthen the voice and leadership role of local governments in the national effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to the impacts of climate change.  As part of the new partnership, ICLEI members can join Climate Communities for half-price in the next 90 days.  This offer expires September 22, 2008. Find out more about this exciting partnership and what it means for you!

ICLEI is pleased to announce the public release of the draft Local Government Operations Protocol for public review and comment. This Protocol will serve as the greenhouse gas accounting and reporting standard for local government operations across the United States. We are soliciting written comments on the Protocol over the next 30 days. Comment today.

ICLEI will host a webinar to provide additional information and answer questions on July 7. There is also a public workshop in Sacramento on July 10. 

Building Codes: Architecture 2030 has released a new report, “Meeting the 2030 Challenge Through Building Codes,” that outlines an approach for cities, counties and states to meet their greenhouse gas reduction targets through existing building codes.

Solutions: “Warming Solutions That Work,” a new report from Environment America, includes cutting-edges policies and practices at the local government level.

Weather: A synthesis of more than 100 academic papers released by NOAA as part of the US Climate Change Science Program finds that as greenhouse gas emissions rise and global warming increases, North America will experience more weather extremes including severe weather, droughts, and flash floods. Sound familiar?

Kim Lundgren, ICLEI's US Services Director, was down in Miami for the US Conference of Mayors' annual meeting where Presidential candidate Barack Obama addressed the crucial role of cities (read and see his remarks), several ICLEI members received climate protection awards (congrats to the recipients!) and a new survey was released about the impact of gas prices and economic woes on climate work (read the results).

EPA has posted a new suite of maps that show the variety of initiatives states are implementing to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to advance clean energy policies. The maps provide a summary of state activity across a range of climate change and energy policy areas.

National Climate Service Conference Call
Friday, June 27th 10:30-12 (eastern)

Roundtable discussion and conference call with NOAA Deputy Under Secretary Mary Glackin and other state and local organizations. An opportunity for local governments to provide feedback on NOAA's proposed National Climate Service.

Department of Energy Webcast
Thursday, July 17
12-1:30 (eastern)

“Role of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy on High Electric Demand Days in Improving Air Quality and Addressing Greenhouse Gas Reduction Goals.” Sponsored by the Clean Energy/Air Quality Integration Initiative of the US DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. Examples will focus on the Eastern States, but local government representatives from around the country are welcome.

• NASA Scientist Returns to the Hill. James Hansen testified in front of the House Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming this week, marking the 20th anniversary of his much-referenced first testimony on the subject in 1988.
>> Read the New York Times coverage. 

• Dip in Driving. With high gas prices, Americans have driven 33 billion less miles since November. This is the biggest drop since gas shortages in the late 70s and according to the Transportation Secretary reflects more than a temporary reduction.
>> Read more from USA Today.

• CA Global Warming Law Implementation. Anticipation is high for the release this week of the California Air Resources Board's draft "scoping plan," the blueprint for implementing AB-32 -- California's landmark global warming law. The San Francisco Chronicle takes a first look at this ambitous plan.