DATE: July 11, 2007

 RELEASE: Immediate

MONTEREY TO SIGN CLIMATE PROTECTION AGREEMENTS

Monterey, CA - The City of Monterey will make a formal commitment to lowering greenhouse gas emissions and promoting a sustainable environment when Mayor Chuck Della Sala signs the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement and the U.N. Urban Environmental Accords during a ceremony in front of Colton Hall on Wednesday, July 11 at 3:00 p.m. 

The climate protection agreements will build on the City’s existing foundation of environmental initiatives, such as Stormwater Management, Recycling and Green Business programs. On display at the event will be one of the City’s electric cars, first- and second-generation hybrid City cars, the City’s energy conservation trailer which shows people how they can save energy, and green cleaning products used by the City.

U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement

A coalition of mayors initiated the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement, which has been signed by 592 mayors representing over 67 million Americans. The agreement commits the cities to the Kyoto Protocol, an international climate change agreement that the U.S. has not yet signed.

U.N. Urban Environmental Accords

The U.N. Urban Environmental Accords represent a declaration by participating city governments to build ecologically sustainable, economically dynamic, and socially equitable futures for their citizens. The Accords encompass 21 Actions in seven different areas such as water, energy, and waste. 

To date, 94 cities worldwide have signed on to the Accords, including 23 cities in North America and 8 in California.  While some Actions require work over several decades, such as achieving zero waste and reducing greenhouse gas emissions, the UN’s goal is to complete most Actions by UN Environment Day, 2012.

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