Talk to the Next President: Endorse the Climate Action Blueprint to tell the next president and Congress what you need
Our Survey Awaits: Has your jurisdiction's primary staff liaison taken ICLEI's 2008 member survey yet?
Strategies for Survival: Four members of the ICLEI network tell you how they're navigating -- or preventing -- budget shortfalls
ICLEI Members in Action: Pittsburgh partners with ICLEI, Dallas throws a green party, and Bellingham takes a trophy

ICLEI together with AmericaSpeaks and the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies are pleased to congratulate the following 10 communities that have been selected as the Spotlight Conversations for the 2009 National Conversation on Climate Action:

• Boise, Idaho
• Hennepin County, Minnesota
• Houston, Texas
• Jackson, Wyoming
• Lexington, Kentucky (Fayette County)
• Los Angeles County, California
• Milwaukee, Wisconsin
• Sarasota County, Florida
• Sumter, South Carolina
• Tucson, Arizona

Hundreds of other communities are invited to host their own National Conversation events on Earth Day (April 22) 2009. Mark your calendars and stay tuned for more details.
>> Learn More

If you haven't already, take ICLEI's 2008 member survey to help us better understand your needs. All jurisdictions that complete the survey by Nov. 19 will be entered into a drawing, and the winner will have membership dues waived for 2009.
>> View the Survey

ICLEI has released version 1 of the Local Government Operations Protocol -- the official standard for quantifying and reporting greenhouse gas emissions. By following the Protocol, local governments can be confident that their work will adhere to the latest in GHG accounting.
>> Download It Now

The economic downturn is affecting municipal budgets nationwide, but the stories aren’t all doom and gloom. Four ICLEI member local governments – Cleveland, Ohio, Duluth, Minn., Carbondale, Colo., and Redwood City, Calif. -- share with us their smart strategies to continue climate and sustainability initiatives despite budgetary belt tightening. Read the story to find out what you can learn from their experiences, then share your own. Part 2 in a series.

>> Read the Article

>> E-Mail Us to Share Your Experiences and Tips

ICLEI and Climate Communities are seeking the endorsement of local elected leaders from across the country for the Climate Action Blueprint. This document, to be presented to the new president and Congress, outlines the actions and policies needed from the federal government to address global climate change, all through the local government lens.

The deadline to endorse the Blueprint is November 28. We’re also encouraging ICLEI members to host local media events in early December to unveil the Blueprint and promote your leadership. Please talk to your elected officials about endorsing the Blueprint.

>> Learn More

Creating the next American economy: the low-carbon, clean-energy economy

Some states win, some lose with CFL bulbs

Risks of global warming greater than financial crisis: Stern

7 signs the new energy economy is here

2 greenhouse gases on the rise worry scientists

Don’t forget to bookmark ICLEI’s Climate & Sustainability News page, or subscribe to our RSS feed. You can also bookmark our ICLEI & Members in the News page, or subscribe to the RSS feed.

“Our Energy and Climate Protection Plan [has survived budget cuts] because we’ve had tremendous community buy-in from the outset. Our residents are motivated and in support of our efforts. And our trustees and mayor understand that the sooner we make moves for efficiency and start saving money, the greater those payoffs will be in the long run.”

--ICLEI Member Joshua Smith, Carbondale, Colo., Energy Manager.” 

The ICLEI network welcomes the following new local governments:

• Cumberland, ME
• Culver City, Calif.
• Johnson County, Kan.
  
• Lakewood, Calf.
  
• Mount Kisco, N.Y.
• Mamaroneck, N.Y.
• Racine, Wis.
  
• Spartanburg, S.C.
• Yountville, Calif.