Local Communities Can Take Lead on Protecting Environment
By Rich Stazinski
The Indianapolis Star
September 8, 2006

Regarding the Aug. 31 story, "California may cap greenhouse gases": Rarely are we given the opportunity to praise our local and state governments for taking action that could affect the United States and the world. But something unique happened last week that should grab our attention and have us asking: Can we do it too?

Last week, California leaders pushed forward AB32, a measure to cut greenhouse emissions by 25 percent by 2020. This measure is important for all of us, not just Californians. It states boldly that we do not have to wait for our national leaders to haggle over watered-down environmental policies. We can take local action now on a pressing global challenge that is sure to affect future generations.

California is the first state to pursue independent, binding emissions policies. But cities and towns across the United States, and right here in Indiana, are doing the same things under two complimentary agreements: the Urban Environmental Accords and the U.S. Mayors' Climate Protection Agreement. Each of these proposals asks mayors and town councils to be active in reducing environmental pollution and emissions levels in their own unique ways. In Indiana, Bloomington, Columbus, Fort Wayne, Gary and Michigan City are already signatories of the MCPA.

From Portland, Oregon, to Portland, Maine, Americans are asking their elected officials to take the environmental stewardship into their own hands, to pass legislation that will affect communities now and for decades to come. Indianapolis has not yet signed the UEA or MCPA. So shouldn't we ask ourselves: can we do it too?

Richard M. Stazinski
Outreach Manager, Connecting the Global to the Local
Citizens for Global Solutions

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