Is your city and county cool?

Communities all over America are responding to the threat of global warming with smart energy solutions. These “Cool Cities” are taking decisive action to reduce heat-trapping emissions, lower energy bills, save taxpayer dollars, and protect our environment. 

Mayors and other local leaders are taking the lead to curb global warming.  Beginning with Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels, more than more than 750 mayors representing over 76 million Americans in 50 states have signed the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement to reduce global warming carbon dioxide (CO2) pollution in their cities to 7 percent below 1990 levels by 2012. These Cool Cities are working to meet this goal with practical and innovative energy solutions that reduce energy waste and pollution, and thereby cut our dependence on oil, benefit public health, and save money.

While each city's energy solutions plan will be unique, there are three key Cool City strategies: Green Vehicle Fleets, Energy Efficiency, and Renewable Energy.

Steps to get involved:

Step 1:  Review the four steps involved in becoming a cool city.   Find out if you live and work in a cool city. 

Step 2: Place a call to your mayor's office to find out what the city is doing to reduce its carbon emissions.  You can make this phone call if your city has or has not made the Cool City commitment.  If your city has not signed the US Mayors Climate Protection Agreement, ask your mayor to do so!  You can also download a Cool City postcard and send it to your mayor.

Step 3:  Call the Sierra Club's Cascade Chapter office at 206.378.0114 x308 or email Jessica.eagle@sierraclub.org to find out if there is a group currently working to make your city cool.  Find out how you can make the greatest difference in your city's effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. 

Step 4:  Ask your friends, family and neighbors to get involved.  We can always accomplish more when working with others.  

Action Templates:

Cool Cities fact sheet

Postcard to Mayor: Make your city a cool city!

Climate Action Plan Fact Sheet

Learn more about Cool Cities!

COOL COUNTIES

On July 16, 2007 at the National Association of Counties Annual Conference in Richmond, Virginia, 12 pioneering counties representing 17 million people launched “Cool Counties.” The Cool Counties initiative seeks to marshal the resources of all 3,066 counties across the nation to address the challenges climate change poses to our communities.

Participating counties commit to four smart actions:

1. reducing the county's contributions to climate change through it's internal operations;
2. demonstrating regional leadership to achieve climate stabilization and protect our communities;
3. helping it's community become climate resilient;
4. urging the federal government to support the Cool Counties' efforts.

King County, Washington, Fairfax County, Virginia, and the Sierra Club led the effort to draft this declaration and organize support for its approval. King County will continue to serve as the lead organizing government as we build support across the nation.

See if your county is cool!

Encouraging your city and county to take steps to reduce their carbon emissions at the same time makes sense.  Leaders from both municipalities can motivate each other and work together!

Useful Links:

Click here to find out if you live and work in a cool county.

Learn more about Cool Counties!