Local Legislative Innovation:
Achieving Long-Term Sustainability through Policy
Gary Cook, Deputy Director Kim Lundgren, Regional Director ICLEI- Local Governments for Sustainability
Sundance Summit September 9, 2007
ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability
•Membership association of 300 local governments in the United States (800 worldwide) advancing climate protection at the local level •Supporting the work of mayors and other local government leaders through climate action tools, technical and communications assistance, and peer networking
Importance of Local Government Action
Reduce Pollution Opportunity for Innovation Power of Collaboration Build Local Political Support Policy Precedent for State & Federal Levels
ICLEI Membership
Tools & methodology Greenhouse gas quantification software Technical assistance Training sessions Professional network Competitive grants Publications Annual Site Visits
Policy: An imperative component of local climate action
Ordinances/By-Laws are key tool for establishing authority Now think about with a climate lens Ensures long-term, ongoing progressive emissions reductions Turn those resolutions into ongoing action!!
Identifying the Barriers to Successful Policy
Develop Clear Set of Goals Review and analyze all existing policies and ordinances for inconsistencies with goals Take action to amend codes and policies to be consistent Work with ICLEI and other municipalities to address barriers from the regional or state level
Common Barriers
Zoning- barriers to mixed use development; requirement for minimum lot sizes and minimum parking spaces- makes increasing density difficult Building Codes- state level restrictions Historic District Restrictions
Policy Collaboration ICLEI’s Role & Resources
Identification of Opportunities Introduction into state level climate policy development Facilitator- MA & MD examples Clearinghouse
Climate Action Handbook- www.iclei.org/us www.coolmayors.org website COMING SOON! New ICLEI USA website (www.icleiusa.org)
State & Regional Policy Engagement
Municipalities as role models Opportunity to guide new state level policies to ensure compatibility with existing municipal Collaboration with other local governments
Share resources and expertise Create purchasing network Demonstration of consistent message
Universal codes to encourage economic growth in a sustainable fashion
Transportation
Parking Incentives Salt Lake City Huntington, NY San Jose, CA Green Taxi Fleets Boston, MA New York, NY San Francisco, CA Transit Incentives Chapel Hill, NC Ann Arbor, MI Green Fleet Policies Denver, CO Hamilton, NJ Providence, RI Seattle, WA
Green Building Policies
LEED Chicago Hayward, CA Novato, CA Portland, OR Arlington County, VA EnergyStar Greenburgh, NY Frisco, TX Own Rating System Boston, MA New York, NY Telluride
Clean Energy
Montgomery County Purchasing Network Local Renewable Portfolio StandardAnn Arbor, MI; Austin, TX; Columbia, Missouri Protection of solar rights
Santa Barbara, CA Ashland, OR Chapel Hill, NC Medford, MA Epping, NH