Background
Second Annual
The 2009 National Conversation builds directly on the success of the inaugural effort undertaken in 2007, during which 70 communities across the country organized local forums to build awareness of, grow support for and engage new allies in local climate action work.
The concept for the National Conversation was borne out of the Yale Conference on Climate Change in 2005 when Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies, now a key partner in the National Conversation, invited more than 100 leaders and thinkers to spend two days together in Aspen, Colorado. Their charge was to diagnose why, in the face of stronger and stronger science, the United States has been so slow to act on the issue of climate change. More importantly, they were asked to make recommendations about how to get things moving while there is still time to effect how climate change unfolds. More information, including results from that event, is available at: http://research.yale.edu/environment/climate/about/. Download the report from the event, Americans and Climate Change.
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Why Now? Why Local?
Spring 2009 will be a critical season for the climate, the economy and our communities.
Scientists call for emissions reductions of 80% by 2050 to avoid irreversible damage and emphasize that we must act now to reach that target. With the Obama administration and the new Congress likely to pursue federal energy climate policy and the highly anticipated international climate negotiations in Copenhagen scheduled the following December, the prospects – and urgent need – for a global commitment and U.S. leadership are brighter than ever.
Meanwhile the calls for green jobs and clean energy to be the drivers of our economic recovery get louder every day, and the experience of local governments on these fronts – saving energy and money, stimulating local jobs, driving smart energy solutions – will be leading this chorus. Indeed in December 2008 ICLEI helped generate the support of more than 350 local elected officials for investing economic stimulus dollars in local, “shovel-ready” climate action project.
Additionally, ICLEI’s 500 member local governments in the United States and the signatories to the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement are gearing up for action. Many communities in are the midst of local climate action planning and can capitalize on citizen awareness given these global current events and the advent of Earth Day.
Having provided the foundation for this country’s response to climate change, local governments are in a key position to build on their innovation and leadership. Local governments must be part of the policy dialogue to ensure their voices, success stories and priorities for climate policy are heard and to help shape the U.S. response. In addition, local governments themselves need to engage their full community’s voices and support and encourage their involvement to develop all-inclusive, workable plans to achieve their emissions reduction goals. Finally, it will be particularly important for local governments to demonstrate success and sustain their momentum during these tough economic times, when citizens may be tempted to forego further investments in climate action.