Hillsboro: to Sign or Not to Sign?

Hillsboro, Oregon's fifth largest city, is working on a plan to reduce its greenhouse emissions. Several important details remain unresolved, for instance, should the city sign onto the Mayors Climate Protection Agreement, and join approximately 400 other local governments in the US that have signed onto this document? The Mayors Climate Protection Agreement was drafted in 2005, by mayors who resolved to reduce global warming pollution in their cities by 7% below 1990 levels by the year 2012. Since then, hundreds of cities have signed on, but some cities have interpreted the Agreement differently.

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The goal of bringing emissions "7% below 1990 levels by 2012" is unrealistic for cities like Hillsboro, whose population has more than doubled in the last seventeen years. However, cities unable to meet that specific goal can develop their own target, and still sign the Agreement to show their general support for curbing global warming. The hundreds of cities that have signed the document send a powerful message: they show that global warming is an issue important to city governments. By signing the Agreement a city commits to reducing emissions in whatever way it can, but putting the mayor's signature on the document also confirms that the city is part of a nation-wide movement that confronts one of the most important issues ever taken on by local governments. So should Hillsboro sign the Agreement? What do you think?

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About the Oregon Cities Climate Solutions Network

Local governments across the United States are showing more and more interest in acting to reduce their emissions of harmful global warming pollutants, such as carbon dioxide gas. While the US federal government refuses to take meaningful action against global warming, hundreds of brave mayors and city councilors are picking up the slack, and doing what they can to steer us clear of the global climate crisis. That's why the Oregon Cities Climate Solutions Network was created.

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Several local governments in Oregon, including those of Portland, Eugene, Corvallis, and Ashland, are already formulating clearly defined goals for reducing their greenhouse emissions. Some cities, such as Beaverton, have made public statements committing themselves to reduce greenhouse emissions, even if they have not yet formed a solid plan for how they are going to do it. Others, like Hillsboro, are in the process of developing a goal and an action plan, and will hopefully be there soon. The purpose of the Oregon Cities Climate Solutions Network (OCCSN) is to encourage more Oregon cities to join in the movement, and to follow through with the lofty goals they set for themselves. Local governments in this state have accomplished a lot, but there is still much to be done. So get involved. On this site, we are collecting signatures for petitions to the two largest Oregon cities that still have no comprehensive action plan, encouraging them to join the trend. You can also find out how to make your own city government take action, and make a real difference in the fight against global warming. In this movement, individuals can be the catalyst for real change. So go out there. Or look around this website. And do something.

VISIT THE OCCSN ACTION DASHBOARD TO GET STARTED!