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Mayor takes first step to making Jacksonville a Cool City

Aug 17, 2007

Several weeks ago, in an unannounced, so-far unpublicized action, Mayor Peyton signed the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement (USMCPA).

Mayor John Peyton of Jacksonville has signed an agreement committing the city to strive to reduce global warming pollution. Several weeks ago, in an unannounced, so-far unpublicized action, Mayor Peyton signed the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement (USMCPA). The signing was revealed in a recent Folio Weekly report by Owen Holmes. By signing it, Mayor Peyton joined Jacksonville with 62 other Florida cities committed to combat global warming.

The Cool Cities program fosters the agreement and the community process that must follow to develop smart energy solutions and the needed CO2 pollution reductions in our community. The movement to sign the USMCPA began with Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels in February of 2005. He wanted to commit to the goals of the Kyoto Protocol, the international agreement to address climate disruption. At a time when the federal government was failing to act, he led the way with nine other mayors to move America toward a safer and more secure future.

In the summer of 2005, the U.S. Conference of Mayors unanimously passed a resolution supporting the USMCPA. As of August 17, 2007, over 648 mayors have signed the USMCPA, from all 50 states, DC, and Puerto Rico, representing over 72 million Americans. The Sierra Club regards the signing of the Mayors agreement as an important first step toward becoming a "Cool City". The campaign's primary purpose is to support the implementation of local smart energy solutions in order to meet the reduction targets of the USMCPA. Participating cities commit to take three actions:

1. Strive to meet or beat the Kyoto Protocol targets in their own communities.

2. Urge their state and the federal government to enact policies and programs to meet or beat the greenhouse gas emission reduction target suggested for the United States in the Kyoto Protocol -- 7% reduction from 1990 levels by 2012.

3. Urge the U.S. Congress to pass the bipartisan greenhouse gas reduction legislation, which would establish a national emission trading system.

In collaboration with community partners, local Cool Cities campaigns advocate that cities take action with cost-effective and proven clean energy solutions, including energy efficiency technologies, cleaner vehicles, renewable power, smart growth land use planning, and greater transportation choices.

Mayor Peyton has been asked to issue executive orders similar to those undertaken by Florida Governor Charlie Crist at the recent Florida Climate Change Summit. In collaboration with the Jacksonville Carbon Neutral Initiative, we hope to meet soon with the Mayor and stakeholders throughout our community to get underway to making Jacksonville, St. Augustine, and all communities of the First Coast Cool Cities.