Global Warming, Local Action - Our World

Al Gore has captured the world's attention by winning the Nobal Peace prize for his work as a spokesperson for the issue of climate change. The Norwegian Nobal Committee issued a statement explaining its decision and praising Gore in shining terms: "He is probably the single individual who has done most to create greater worldwide understanding of the measures that need to be adopted."  Al Gore should be praised for his efforts to raise awareness about climate change. But equally worthy of praise are the individuals and communities around the world who are taking action to stop climate in its tracks. Right here in the United States there is evidence of widespread movement working to solve the problem of climate change at the local level.

Under the leadership of Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, the United States chose not to ratify the Kyoto Protocol - the international community's collective solution to climate change. Both administrations found Kyoto's approach to be imbalanced and unfair, because the agreement focused too heavily on reducing climate change causing emmissions in industrialized nations, but failing to the devloping world's contributions to the problem. Many in the U.S. worried the the country's failure to ratify Kyoto would mean that meaningful action on the issue would have to wait. Instead, the movement to stop global warming has made great strides in the United States by addressing the problem at the local level.

In 2005, under the leadership of Seattle Mayor Greg Nickes the U.S. Conference of Mayors launched its Climate Protection Agreement. Mayors who sign the agreement pledge to reduce their city's climate change related emmissions by sevem percent by 2012. In 2007 the U.S. Conference of Mayors Climate Protection Center was created to provide mayors with support as they seek to achieve this goal.  As of October of 2007 a total of 691 cities across the U.S. had signed on to the agreement.  The Sierra Club, one of the county's oldest and largest environmental organizations, has worked to promote the agreement in towns and cities across the United States through its Cool Cities campaign. It provides volunteers organizers with the resources they need to promote the Climate Protection Agreement in their hometown.

Other groups have worked to pass local resolutions calling for national and local action on the issue of climate change, drawing valuable attention to the issue in the local media. For example volunteers working with the New Hampshire based Carbon Coalition have passed the group's Climate Change Resolution in 164 towns and cities in the Granite State.  The resolution calls for:

1) Establishment of a national program requiring reductions of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions while protecting the U.S. economy.

2) Creation of a major national research initiative to foster rapid development of sustainable energy technologies thereby stimulating new jobs and investment.

3.) In addition, the town of _______ encourages New Hampshire citizens to work for emission reductions within their communities, and we ask our Selectmen to consider the appointment of a voluntary energy committee to recommend local steps to save energy and reduce emissions.

4.) The record of the vote on this article shall be transmitted to the New Hampshire Congressional Delegation, to the President of the United States, and to declared candidates for those offices.

The Carbon Coalition is also active in the New Hampshire Primary. As one of the first in the nation the New Hampshire primary plays a key role in presidential elections here in the U.S. Presidential candidates often focus the bulk of their resources on winning New Hampshire because of the primary's relatively small size, active voter base, and prominence in the mass media's coverage of the primary season. The Carbon Coalition uses the New Hampshire Primary to ask presidential candidates to take a pledge to fight climate change. Its volunteers attend presidential events, ask voters to sign their petitions, and ask the candidates questions about climate change in order to get their posititions on the record. When presidential candidates address climate change it raises the status of the issue in the public eye. Once a candidate is elected their pledge can be used to make sure they take action on climate change.

Local action on climate change has broader implications for our country. Local action draws the attention of the local media and local regional politicians. Proponents of policies aimed at addressing the issue of climate change at the national level can point to widespread local action as evidence of public support for action at the federal level. In addition,  the cumulative positive impact of these local actions continues to grow as more and more communities work to reduce emmissions.

What do you think of local action on climate change?  Is your community taking action? Would you support it if it did? What are some other ways individuals, businesses, communities, and governments are taking action on this issue? Share your views, and as always keep to comments civil! 

You've just read another exciting edition of Our World, by Gather Political Correspondent David Anderson. Our World provides readers with new perspectives on the key issues facing our country and our world. Check it out weekly here on Gather, or read past editions by searching for the tag "live from New Hampshire". David is a graduate student studying Political Science at the University of New Hampshire.