On February 16, 2005 the Kyoto Protocol international global warming treaty took effect in 141 nations worldwide. The United States did not ratify this treaty. Frustrated by stalling on the federal level, America’s citizens and local leaders are addressing the issue of global warming at a grass roots level.
As of July 28, 2008, approximately 1,081 mayors have signed the “U.S. Mayors Climate Protection agreement.” Signatories of this initiative, spearheaded by Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels, pledge to reduce global warming carbon dioxide (CO2) pollution in their cities to 7 percent below 1990 levels by 2012.
Four Kentucky mayors - representing Lexington, Louisville, Owensboro, and Villa Hills have signed this agreement. The strategies that these and other cool cities are pursuing fall under three categories: cleaner vehicles, energy efficiency and renewable energy.
For more information on global warming and how you can help your city participate in this exciting grass roots movement, visit the national Sierra Club’s Cool Cities web page.
If you would like to organize a Sierra Club Cool Cities Campaign in your own Kentucky town or city – let us know and we’ll help you! Contact your Sierra Club Cumberland Chapter at (859) 296-4335, or send Email to Cumberland Chapter.
Here are photos from the November 16, 2005 press conference where the Sierra Club formally recognized Lexington as Kentucky's first "Cool City." Many thanks to Bluegrass Group members Patty Draus who took the pictures and was, along with Aloma Dew, instrumental in making this event happen, and David Allen who provided the following text and photo descriptions. Thank you!!
"On November 16, 2005 the Sierra Club recognized Lexington as Kentucky's first Cool City. Lexington became one of nearly 200 cities chosen for the designation because it has a fleet of hybrids, because the police use Segways, and because Mayor Teresa Isaac signed the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement."
From the podium to the right are Hank Graddy, Aloma Dew, Faith Shore, and Mayor Teresa Isaac. Also shown are a mounted policewoman, mounted policeman, and a Segway policeman. Bicycle policemen were present but did not make the picture. Lexington's new Courthouse is in the background.
From the podium to the right are Mayor Teresa Isaac, Faith Shore with the flag, and Hank Graddy. Aloma and Lee Dew's Toyota Prius decorate the background.
Mayor Isaac and the Bluegrass Group's David Allen
Members hybrids from right--Faith and Dick Shore's Honda Insight, Ramesh and Suzanne Bhatt's Honda Civic, Aloma and Lee Dew's Toyota Prius. We have at least three more members with Hybrids who could not attend. One of Lexington's hybrid fleet is mostly obscured on the far left. Old Lexington buildings are in the background.
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