Hillsboro Commits to Fight Global Warming

Global warming is the most serious environmental problem of our time, but local governments can take meaningful action to stop it. On Tuesday, May 15th, the fifth largest city in Oregon resolved to take serious steps to address this issue that threatens life on the planet Earth. That night, the Hillsboro City Council voted unanimously to work with ICLEI Local Governments for Sustainability on a plan to reduce the city's emissions of carbon dioxide and other global warming pollutants. In addition, the council authorized Mayor Tom Hughes to sign the US Mayors Climate Protection Agreement, which would also commit the city to cutting its emissions. The mayor expressed his intention of signing.

This is a big step for Hillsboro. By signing onto the Mayors Climate Protection Agreement, the city will publicly state its intention to "turn down the heat." ICLEI will then help Hillsboro to measure its current emissions, devise a realistic plan for reducing those emissions, and live up to the lofty goals it has set for itself. Hillsboro will be the ninth city in Oregon to have signed onto the Mayors Agreement. Once it joins the others, five of the states six largest cities will have signed on (the only one holding out is Salem). This makes a powerful statement, which officials at higher levels of government will have to listen to. Truly, Tuesday evening was a good night for the environment.

We can make real change to create sustainable communities. Visit the OREGON LOCAL SUSTAINABILITY ACTION DASHBOARD to find out what else is going on.

OCCSN to Salem: We Need Climate Solutions

The movement to fight global warming at the local level is growing. Hillsboro, Oregon, is about to adopt a strategy for reducing greenhouse emissions. Portland is looking into the banning of plastic bags in stores. Nine cities in Oregon have signed onto the US Mayors Climate Protection Agreement.

VISIT THE OCCSN ACTION DASHBOARD AND TELL OTHER CITIES TO ACT

In contrast to all this good news, the city government of our state's capital, Salem, has still not taken firm action to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions. Salem is the largest city in Oregon that is not yet taking global warming seriously, and the Oregon Cities Climate Solutions Network wants to make sure that changes. At the end of this month, OCCSN will ask the city council in Salem to take action. We need to have 100 signatures on our petition to Salem by the time this happens. Will you help us reach the goal of 100 signatures by the end of April? If you haven't already signed the petition, now is the time to do so!

VISIT THE OCCSN ACTION DASHBOARD, and you'll be one click away from our petition.

Together, we can stave off a climate catastrophe. However, it will take the efforts of every level of government to stop global warming, and there's no time to lose. Tell Salem to get in on the action!

Putting the Heat on Salem and Medford

On February 20th, 2007, the Oregon Cities Climate Solutions Network sent a letter to Janet Taylor, mayor of Salem, and to Gary Wheeler, mayor of Medford. These are two of the largest cities in Oregon that have not yet committed to developing a comprehensive plan to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions throughout the city; OCCSN asked that they join major cities such as Portland, Eugene, and Gresham, which have already made that commitment. It is important that all the larger cities in the state contribute to the effort to combat global warming at the local level, so the success of the Salem/Medford campaign is essential. Signatures collected on the petitions sponsored by OCCSN, which ask the mayors of these two cities to take action, will help to back up the letters that were sent on the 20th.

VISIT THE OCCSN ACTION DASHBOARD AND SIGN THE PETITIONS

We need to get as many signatures as possible on those two petitions, so that Salem and Medford will have no choice but to listen to our request. The movement to make Oregon a leader in renewable energy and anti-global warming technology is well on its way, with action taking place at both state and local levels. However, there are still major cities that have not committed to joining in this effort, and that needs to change. Please sign the petitions, if you have not done so already, and urge others to sign them as well.