Pro-environment media campaign underway in Dallas

Dallas (Texas, U.S.A.) recently launched an advertising and internet campaign showcasing its environmental initiatives, and educating residents on living a greener lifestyle.

Ads were placed in city newspapers, and the website, www.greendallas.net, was launched containing information about the city’s environmental initiatives.

“Historically, Dallas has had the reputation as not being a green city,” Mayor Tom Leppert said.  “But we’re going to match up favorably with any city in the nation.  It’s about changing that perception that we’re not environmentally friendly.”

In recent years, the city government has replaced 40 percent of its fleet with hybrids and alternative-fueled vehicles.  The City Council last year directed staff to create a list of citywide ‘green building’ standards that should be implemented later this year.    Additionally, about 40 percent of the energy the Dallas government procures now comes from renewable sources, primarily wind.  Large government-owned buildings such as City Hall and the central library now almost exclusively use compact fluorescent bulbs when applicable.  The city plans to eventually replace less-efficient incandescent bulbs in all of its 700 properties.

More and more cities are facing the need to mitigate climate change while already adapting to the changes brought about by climate change.  ICLEI’s Cities for Climate Protection^® (CCP) Campaign is an innovative international campaign that helps local government and their communities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and their impact on the environment.   And now, the CCP Campaign is launching the Adaptation Initiative, building capacity for climate change impacts at the local level.  For more information, please visit www.iclei.org/ccp.

Dallas is one of 288 local governments in the U.S.A. that are currently Members of ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability.  For more information on ICLEI and its activities in the U.S.A., please go to www.iclei.org/usa.

Source:  “Dallas promoting environmentally friendly image:  New ad campaign to publicize ways to live green, city’s initiatives,” Dallas Morning News, 9 January 2008.