FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                            Sept. 12, 2008

SPANO TO JOIN LEADERS FROM ACROSS THE NATION IN IMPORTANT GATHER TO DEVELOP CLIMATE CHANGE BLUEPRINT FOR THE NEXT PRESIDENT

Westchester County Executive Andy Spano will join government leaders from across the nation at a  historic climate action meeting in Tarrytown Sept. 14-16, where they will work to develop a “Blueprint for Local Climate Action” for the next President. The meeting will be held at the Pocantico Center of the Rockefeller Brothers Fund.

The Local Government Climate Leaders Retreat is 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. Spano is on the board of directors of ICLEI U.S.A. (Local Governments for Sustainability U.SA.),  representing the northeast region of the United States.

 “While we in Westchester have been doing what we can to control greenhouse gas emissions, this demands leadership on the national level. No matter who the president is come Jan. 20, climate change must be addressed by our national leaders in a comprehensive manner that includes recognition of the needs of local governments,” said Spano. “This group will make itself heard with the new president.”

On a related matter, Spano was recently invited to serve on the steering committee for the STAR Community Index. This program is a partnership between ICLEI USA, the U.S. Green Building Council and the Center for American Progress. Participants will develop a uniform national framework for evaluating, quantifying and improving the livability and sustainability of local communities across the nation. The steering committee members  represent more than 40 cities and counties, national associations, federal agencies and non-profit organizations. The group will gather in Washington D.C. Sept. 29-30.   

Westchester, like other governments across the country, is implementing innovative policies and programs to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, including promoting green buildings, expanding public transit, purchasing hybrid busses, using geothermal energy to heat police and fire stations and providing incentives to residents to replace old boilers and home energy units. 

Last February, the county’s Global Warming Task Force held a day-long conference to unveil  its “Westchester Action Plan For Climate Change and Sustainable Development.” This plan may be viewed at    www.westchestergov.com/globalwarming. It includes information on what the county and local governments are doing to combat climate change, as well as practical recommendations for all sectors of the community.

The blueprint that will be developed at the Climate Leaders Retreat 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. 

The local leaders will also discuss 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