Local Governments Commit to Green Economy

With an audience of 400 local government climate and sustainability leaders at the ICLEI Local Action Summit, Albuquerque Mayor Martin Chavez today introduced a new local government commitment to build a green economy from the community-level up. Learn more and sign the pledge. 

This past week was an exciting one in the Midwest.  Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius formed a climate advisory group to take steps to assess the current and future damage of climate change and prepare for an upcoming carbon tax,  Iowa Governor Chet Culver signed into law legislative enhancements to streamline state regulations and efforts to bolster renewable energy usage and availability in Iowa, and Ohio Governor Ted Strickland signed SB 221, which sets a 12.5% renewable energy standard for the state.

A new global index call “Greendex” from National Geographic and the international polling firm GlobeScan gives a bird’s eye view of consumer progress toward environmentally sustainable consumption in 14 countries around the world. By clicking on different countries (including the U.S.) you can see how consumers are taking action to preserve our planet by tracking, reporting, and promoting environmentally sustainable consumption

Check it out here. 

Transportation Gets on Track
With the increase in gas prices, local transportation is being celebrated all over the United States. According to a report in the New York Times, ridership is up 10 -15 percent in many metropolitan areas in the South and West.  The American Public Transportation Association has also weighed in, reporting that public transportation is up 32 percent since 1995.

ICLEI 2008 Local Action Summit
Check out the latest preview of the ICLEI 2008 Local Action Summit from the Associated Press.  The story has run in several news outlets across the country.

Read the article!

Miami-Dade County Clerk, long time climate champion and ICLEI Board Member, Harvey Ruvin, accepted a challenge from his teenage son to use his artistic expression and reach out to a younger crowd about the problems of climate change.  His video is now on YouTube, and has been viewed thousands of times.  Watch it and share with friends.