Written by: Dan Besse
5/28/2007

The U.S. Conference of Mayors in 2005 kicked off an effort to encourage the cities of our nation to take the lead in demanding—and creating—effective action on global climate change. Since that time, over 400 cities, representing all 50 states, have endorsed the U.S. Mayors' Climate Protection Agreement. Participating cities agree to work to reduce their own greenhouse gas emissions, and to urge state governments and Congress to enact policies and programs to do the same.

At our meeting last Monday, the Winston-Salem City Council unanimously voted to join in this effort. I was pleased to make the motion that we do so (supporting our city's Mayor Allen Joines, who requested the action).

Our city manager will now move forward in drafting an action plan for our city to pursue in this effort. The plan should include an audit of city emissions, energy efficiency efforts, more efficient vehicle acquisition and usage, expanded mass transit and other alternative transportation, and more. Several of these strategies have already been under development in our city, but we can still do more.

These efforts are especially important when combined with similar ones from cities and towns around our state (and nation). As Lieutenant Governor, I would work to encourage the development of similar efforts by all our local governments—and to press for effective state participation in the same.

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