As Tom Cochran, Executive Director of the USCM, stated in the foreword to the recent “Survey on Mayoral Leadership on Climate Protection,” throughout the nation there is clear evidence that mayoral/council leadership is producing business and community support for policies that reduce greenhouse gas emissions.  

The establishment of the Mayors Climate Protection Center strengthens the support and resources for these efforts.  The survey was an effort to build a 2007 baseline of information and an illustration of the great variety of strategies being employed to accomplish these efforts, including municipal fleets that include vehicles using alternative fuels or hybrid-electronic technology; lighting provided by energy-efficient technologies; buildings that are more environmentally sustainable; and individual climate protection efforts that are part of broader regional environmental and public health strategies.  

Responses to the survey (including Dubuque’s) represent cities whose mayors are parties to the Mayors Climate Protection Agreement.  All those involved in efforts to control climate change agree that changing human behavior is the key to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.  

Key Findings:

Responses submitted by the deadline included 36 states, ranging from Los Angeles, CA ( the largest city at 3,694,820) to Milan, MN, (the smallest at 326).

- More than four in five of the survey cities now use renewable energy or are planning to in the next year.
- 97% of the survey cities are using more energy efficient lighting technologies in public buildings, streetlights, parks, traffic signals, and other applications or plan to do so in the next year.
- 9 in 10 of the cities require or anticipate requiring in the next year that new city government buildings be energy efficient, healthy, and environmentally sustainable.
- More than three in four of the cities are undertaking efforts to encourage the private sector to construct buildings that are energy efficient, healthy and use sustainable building techniques.

Leading the list of specific activities for which resources are currently not available that cities would undertake if block grant funds became available was “instituting and/or encouraging green building practices!  

Locally, the Durrant Group is leading the way with the construction of its new company site in the Port of Dubuque as it seeks (the highest) Platinum Leed Certification for sustainable design!  Just recently, American Trust of Dubuque announced the launching of its “Going Green with American Trust” program which will offer below market rate financing for commercial construction and renovation projects that promote indoor and outdoor environmental health and ecology!  As I stated when approached about this program, I applaud this bold initiative and commend their commitment to fostering a collective impact on climate change solutions.

Many more creative opportunities could be possible along these lines and it will be exciting to witness the collective wheels turning in our local business community as we move forward toward our goal to seek a Green City Designation, an important distinction to accompany our All America City status!