• In the Spotlight: Climate Policy and Building Codes Webinars 
• GHG Protocol Reminder: Public Comment Period Closes July 18
• Did You Make the Cut? Green Neighborhoods, Top Design Cities, Best Towns

Climate Policy 101 Webcast -- July 30th
Limted Free Registrations Available 

Want to learn more about how a cap-and-trade system works? What are allocations, auctions and offsets? What are the prospects for federal cap-and-trade legislation? ICLEI and Climate Communities invite you participate in a webcast, Climate Policy 101: An Introduction for Local Government Officials to Cap-and-Trade Systems, on Wednesday, July 30th.

The cost is $95, but the first 200 ICLEI and Climate Communities members to register get in free! Register today.  

Building Codes/30% Solution Webinar -- July 29th

Help improve energy efficiency by 30%! ICLEI is partnering with the Energy Efficient Codes Coalition to support the "30% Solution" proposal to update the International Energy Conversation Code with strong energy efficiency improvements for new home construction. Local governments are critical to the success of this proposal at the September International Code Council meeting. Learn more and get involved by attending the free July 29th Webinar!

The Freedom Prize Foundation has announced plan to award more than $4 million to the most effective and sustainable initiatives to cut oil dependency, including a category for Government. Detailed guidelines and applications will be published this fall, but learn more now.

CitiesGoGreen is a new national print and digital magazine to help local governments become more sustainable. Check out the digital sample at www.CitiesGoGreen.com. Digital subscriptions are free to anyone in government. The monthly print issue is available for $72 for 12 issues.

..a Green ‘Hood?

Forbes Magazine has just published a list of the “Most Fuel-Efficient Neighborhoods” in the country, from San Francisco to Detroit. Find out if your hood made the list.

..a “Top Design” City?

ICLEI members dominated this new list of the Top 10 Cities – By Design which takes into account sustainable building and other practices.

...one of the "20 Best Towns"?

Outside Magazine (on newsstands now) gave ICLEI member Washington, D.C., top honors in its annual "Best Towns in America" list. Fellow ICLEI members helped round out the list: Chattanooga, TN; Portsmouth, NH; Tacoma, WA; Ithaca, NY; Louisville, KY; Crested Butte, CO; Columbia, MO; New Orleans, LA; Oakland, CA; Sacramento, CA; Seattle, WA; Charlottesville, VA; and Brattleboro, VT. It's not online yet, but pick up a copy today.

Phoenix is hiring an Environmental Programs Manager. Check out the job description on the ICLEI website.

We’re always happy to post local government climate and sustainability jobs and help spread the word throughout the ICLEI network. Just send an email to newsletter-usa@iclei.org.

International Climate Agreement: This week international leaders including President Bush gathered for the G-8 Summit in Japan, where they agreed to cut greenhouse gas emissions in half by mid-century. Read some of the coverage.

Gas Prices and Cities: High gas prices are putting a strain on everybody's budgets, including cities'. A recent Los Angeles Times story, "High gas prices hobble cities nationwide," details the problems.

ICLEI RSS Feeds Available: ICLEI provides daily news updates on climate in general and local governments specifically. Be sure to check the ICLEI USA website regularly to stay informed. Or sign up for an RSS feed -- just click the RSS icon on the News & Events page.