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The Local Government Climate Leaders Retreat was organized by Climate Communities, a coalition of local governments that is advocating for federal support for local climate change action, and ICLEI USA, an association of local governments that is helping communities measure their carbon footprint and implement local climate action plans. With support from the Rockefeller Brothers Fund, the meeting was held at the Pocantico Center of the Rockefeller Brothers Fund in Tarrytown, New York. As a founding member of Climate Communities, Mayor Malloy is proud that Stamford is part of the growing national movement leading our nation to energy independence, a prosperous new economy based on clean energy and green jobs, and preservation of our planet for our children and grandchildren. "The climate challenge is so large, it requires a national response, and local government action is so important to the climate change solution, that the federal government needs to put real tools and resources into our hands to tackle this challenge," said Mayor Malloy as he opened the discussion. "These challenges of traffic congestion, flooding, energy supply, and air quality are all linked to the challenges that we will increasingly face if we do not come up with a better approach to the climate challenge." Local governments across the country are implementing innovative policies and programs to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, including promoting green buildings, expanding public transit, purchasing hybrid busses, using geothermal energy to beat police and fire stations, and providing incentives to residents to replace old boilers and home energy units. Stamford's sustainability program is broad and well received, and in fact Governor Rell recently awarded Stamford the Connecticut Climate Change Leadership Award. As Mayor Malloy explained: "We are in the midst of a half billion dollar investment in train, bus, light rail and other public transit infrastructure. We are partnering with the private sector for more than S5 billion in smart growth development. We have launched 'Stamford Cool & Green 2020,' a multi-faceted climate protection plan that includes the first in the nation system to gasify processed sewage sludge into clean renewable, carbon free electricity. But local governments cannot do it alone. In Stamford, we eek out progress one step at a time, with scattered and sparse support from our federal and state governments. We need a national response to climate change." Mayor Malloy and city and county leaders from across America were invited to the Local Government Climate Leaders Retreat to identify opportunities to enhance local-federal climate change collaboration. The blueprint will focus on federal policies needed to empower local communities to make progress in reducing vehicle miles traveled, implementing green buildings, creating green energy, promoting green jobs, and adapting to the impacts of climate change. "Local governments have the power to effectively combat climate change and reduce our dependence on foreign oil.." King County, Washington Council member and Climate Communities founding member Larry Phillips said. "I am convinced that if we work together, we can bring about the kind of change we need to reduce our carbon footprint as well." Regardless of who is elected President in November, both candidates agree that climate change is a threat and say there is a strong need to curb greenhouse gases. The local leaders also discussed their strategy to implement the blueprint, which includes meeting with the new President's transition team in December, educating key Members of Congress, and effectively communicating their message about the critical role of local governments in addressing climate change. ### Climate Communities (www.climatecommunities.us) is a national coalition of local governments dedicated to: (1) educating national policy-makers on the critical role of local governments in reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) pollution and adapting to the impacts of climate change, and (2) ensuring that Congress and federal agencies enact policies and programs that provide the resources, tools and incentives localities need to meet the climate change challenge. For more information about Climate Communities, contact Andy Seth at (202)-261-6011 or andy@climatecommunities.us © Copyright by StamfordPlus.com. Some articles and pictures posted on our website, as indicated by their bylines, were submitted as press releases and do not necessarily reflect the position and opinion of StamfordPlus.com, Stamford Plus magazine, Canaiden LLC or any of its associated entities. Articles may have been edited for brevity and grammar. Related Articles: Fairfield Museum’s Fall Festival, Native American style - Sep 19, 2008 - 12:35 PM Renowned researcher to speak on role of genetics in MS - Sep 19, 2008 - 2:15 AM Nader in, Barr out - Sep 18, 2008 - 11:07 AM King names four to administrative positions - Sep 17, 2008 - 2:05 PM Fairfield invites national StoryCorps project to record local stories for Family History Month - Sep 16, 2008 - 2:28 PM CURRENT HEADLINES: Top of Page
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