1. 1 Policy to the People Presented by: Luz Borrero, Deputy Chief Operating Officer City of Atlanta Global Warming… Public Understanding, Local Challenges & Opportunities, Government Response, and City of Atlanta Supporting Efforts

2. 2 U.S. CanadaBritain Is global warming already happening? Yes54%7165 Understanding of global warming Very well162116 Fairly well545259 Not well302725 Global Warming Public Understanding Gallop Poll (11/8/2005)

3. Global Warming How Serious Is It? If nothing is done to reduce global warming in the future, how serious a problem will it be for the U.S./world? Very serious49%/57% Somewhat serious34/28 Not so serious10/8 Not at all6/5 No opinion2/2 Which would you rather see the federal government do: require companies and individuals to do things to reduce global warming, offer tax cuts to encourage these things, or do nothing to influence these things? Require52% Encourage38 Do nothing8 No opinion2 ABC NEWS/STANFORD UNIVERSITY/TIME (3/2006)

4. 4 Do you believe you will see the effects of global climate change in your lifetime? Yes61% No31 Don ’ t know/refused8 In what time frame do you think you will see the effects of global climate change? 30 years from today5% 20 years from today9 10 years from today12 We are already seeing the effects72 Don ’ t know/refused3 ORCAS/Harris Interactive Poll (9/23-26/2005) Global Warming When Will it Happen?

5. 5 1.Population Growth 2.3 million more people by 2030 in the Atlanta Metro Region 2030 estimated population of six million 2.Limited funding 3.Lack of comprehensive regional transit plan 4.Lack of sufficient support for existing transit systems (i.e. MARTA) 5.New, more stringent air quality standards ORCAS/Harris Interactive Poll (9/23-26/2005) Local Challenges and Opportunities

6. 6 1.Most Popular Destination For 10 of 13 counties: Fulton – City of Atlanta 2.Average travel time to work in the region increased 20.2% to 31.2 minutes in 2000 4 th highest percent change in the nation 3.2005 smog season ozone level exceeded federal standard: 13 days for the eight-hour standard 4.Region is facing implementation of more stringent 8-hour ozone standard and fine particulate matter standard Local Challenges and Opportunities

7. Government Response… U.S. Climate Change Agreement Agreement strives to meet or exceed Kyoto Protocol targets for reducing global warming pollution by taking actions including: Promoting transportation options Adopting and enforcing land-use policies that reduce sprawl, preserve green and open space, and create dense, walkable urban communities Making energy efficiency a priority Practicing and promoting sustainable building practices Increasing recycling rates Helping educate the public, schools, other jurisdictions, professional associations, business and industry about importance of reducing global warming pollution Mayor Shirley Franklin signed the U.S. Mayor’s Climate Change Agreement May 2005 As of April 28, 2006, 227 mayors from 40 states representing a total population of over 44 million citizens had signed the agreement

8. Government Response… Models Charlotte, North Carolina is converting its municipal fleet to hybrid cars Salt Lake City is upgrading its traffic lights with more efficient bulbs, saving 500 tons of heat trapping gas, and over $50,000 a year on the city's energy bill In Twin Falls, Idaho local officials are making the city's 11 schools more energy efficient and saving $3.5 million in the process Examples of Cities investing in renewable energy include: In Waverly, Iowa the local utility is paying farmers to install wind turbines on their land Fort Collins, Colorado has committed to meeting 15% of its energy needs with renewable sources by 2017, mainly with wind power The San Diego Unified School District is replacing the roofs on many of its buildings with solar roofing material. The district anticipates $6.9 million in total cost-savings over 20 years

9. City of Atlanta… Supporting Efforts Promote transportation and transit options Supports Marta financially Partner with Clean Air Campaign; Gold Member since 1998 Beltline will connect neighborhoods, activity centers and attractions by way of multi-use trails and transit Adopt and enforce land-use policies to reduce sprawl, preserve open space, and create denser, walkable urban communities $105M Opportunity Bond Program to acquire land for new recreation amenities and infrastructure improvements, greenspace, and construction of trails Make energy efficiency a priority Energy Audit of City Facilities: Conservation Program created $500,000 savings from in- depth electricity rate analysis Promote sustainable building practices Sustainability Ordinance: Promotes environmental stewardship and green building practices Xeriscape roof-top garden installed at City Hall Increase recycling rates Charter member of ATLanta Recycles Provides curbside recycling to 87,000 residences Educate the public, schools, other jurisdictions.. Worked with students and teachers to create butterfly gardens Provided educational sessions for high school students on clean water and healthy streams

10. 10 Local Governments represent a concentration of resources and have great potential to be change agents by encouraging innovative and sustainable practices Local Governments have fewer barriers to developing environmental policy compared to other levels of government The Cities for Climate Protection Program was set up in 1993 by the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI) to provide local governments with a framework for developing a strategic agenda on how to address climate change. So far 623 cities from all over the world have joined the program representing 8% of the greenhouse emissions globally As of April 6, 2006 224 US Mayors from 39 states representing a total population of 43.9 million citizens have signed the US Climate Protection Agreement to enact policies and programs to meet or beat the target of reducing global warming pollution levels to 7 percent below 1990 levels by 2012, The agreement includes efforts to reduce the United States’ dependence on fossil fuels and accelerate the development of clean, economical energy resources and fuel-efficient technologies such as: Energy conservation Methane recovery for energy generation Waste to energy Wind and solar energy, fuel cells, efficient motor vehicles, and biofuels. Conclusion…