Mayors Urge Senate to Pass Climate Security Act

Published on May 23, 2008 - 6:50:12 AM

By: U.S. Conference of Mayors

WASHINGTON, May 22 - The nation's mayors are putting forth their full support behind Senate Environment and Public Works Chairman Barbara Boxer's revised version of the pending Climate Security Act (S.2191), which will enable cities and the country to make systematic reductions nationwide in U.S. greenhouse gas emissions.

"We commend Chairman Barbara Boxer for her leadership and commitment to this issue," said Conference President Trenton Mayor Douglas H. Palmer. "We urge the Senate to pass this crucial piece of legislation that will put us on a path to continue to confront America's climate challenge."

For more than a year, the Conference's top legislative priority is the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) program. Through this funding commitment to the Block Grant program, which the pending Senate Climate bill provides, mayors will be further enabled to deliver systematic emission reductions through significantly increased energy efficiency and renewable energy development programs in their communities.

"This is a critical time for our nation as we continue to seek solutions for our growing energy crisis and to confront fully the growing global climate change challenge," said Conference Executive Director and CEO Tom Cochran. "This new initiative will not only help transform America's cities, but is a critical part of any successful national effort to reduce carbon emissions."

"I also commend New Jersey Senators Frank Lautenberg and Bob Menendez from my home state, who worked with Chairman Boxer, for their efforts to ensure a strong federal commitment to the Block Grant program," added Palmer.

Mayors, through their work over the years, have been leaders on initiatives to improve the environment, with increased efforts focused on climate protection. To date, more than 850 Mayors, representing more than 80 million Americans, have signed the U.S. Conference of Mayors' Climate Protection Agreement, a shared demonstration of our promise to take daily action to protect our nation and the planet. Each mayor who has signed this agreement pledges to reduce their city's greenhouse gas emissions by 7 percent below 1990 levels by 2012 (in line with the Kyoto protocol).

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