3/9/2007
NACo adopts Councilman Weiner's Global Warming Resolution

NACo adopts global warming policy at conference

Nation’s counties call on Congress and the administration to take practical actions to address climate change WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The National Association of Counties (NACo) Board of Directors adopted policy today calling on Congress and the Administration to take practical actions to reduce the risks of global warming.

The policy, adopted today at NACo’s 2007 Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C., “Urges Congress to address global warming, regardless of its source.” Further, the policy states, “NACo supports immediate and long-range efforts by the federal government to involve all levels of stakeholders to mitigate possible sources of climate change now through a series of practical incentives and through more federal funding for all means of emissions reductions. NACo will provide a leadership role in the education, discussion, evaluation, and decision making processes regarding issues of global climate change affecting counties.”  

Executive Director Larry E. Naake said it is the first time the NACo Board of Directors has adopted policy on this issue. 

“Counties all across the country have really stepped up in recent years to address climate change issues with a variety of innovative programs,” Naake said.  “We hope that through this policy, the nation’s counties can work more closely with Congress and the executive branch to develop effective national climate change policies.”    

The resolution highlighted efforts by county governments to save money on energy bills and reduce emissions.  Like consumers, local governments face ever-increasing costs for energy use.

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The National Association of Counties (NACo) is the only national organization that represents county governments in the United States.  Founded in 1935, NACo provides essential services to the nation’s 3,066 counties.  NACo advances issues with a unified voice before the federal government, improves the public's understanding of county government, assists counties in finding and sharing innovative solutions through education and research, and provides value-added services to save counties and taxpayers money.  For more information about NACo, visit www.naco.org.

“We call on the federal government to take the lead of local governments and take practical steps to reduce global warming, cut air pollution, and save taxpayers money,” said Bob Weiner, Councilman, New Castle County, DE, who was the lead sponsor of the Resolution. Councilman Bob Weiner chairs both NACo’s Sustainability Leadership Team and the Land Use/Growth Management Subcommittee. Weiner worked with a diverse array of political interests to craft the consensus resolution by brokering compromise language which was adopted by NACo as its official policy on global warming.  

 “Regional governments are critical change agents in the fight against global warming,” said Weiner. “Through land use planning, transit policy, and responsible environmental management, regional governments have become a key market catalyst in supporting and developing clean energy solutions. Bi-partisan support at all levels of government is critical to develop the use of alternative energy and reduce the impacts of global warming.”

The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that local governments annually spend $3.4 billion too much on energy costs due to inefficiency. Hundreds of counties are participating in the Energy Star Program to cut county energy costs and pollution by 20-40 percent.

“We have registered counties across the country in the Energy Star Program to save money, conserve energy, and reduce global warming emissions. Counties are providing leadership in the education, discussion, evaluation, and decision making processes regarding issues of global climate change affecting communities”, said Weiner.

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