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I'm very pleased that Milwaukee is joining hundreds of other local governments across the U.S. to help slow global warming after the Common Council approved a pair of environmental initiatives I sponsored.
On Sept. 26, 2006 the full council voted to make Milwaukee a member of Local Governments for Sustainability, founded 16 years ago as the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI). ICLEI represents nearly 500 local governments worldwide, and its primary program, the Cities for Climate Protection Campaign, calls on municipalities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Dues would be $875 for the remainder of this year and $3,500 a year in the future.
Another part of the resolution, which I also sponsored, directs Mayor Tom Barrett to sign the U.S. Conference of Mayors Climate Protection Agreement. That agreement commits cities to cut their greenhouse gas emissions by at least 7% by 2012. Mayor Barrett signed the pact late last month, joining 238 other mayors, including those in Madison, Greenfield, Wauwatosa, West Allis, Racine, Ashland, LaCrosse, River Falls and Washburn who've also signed.
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