What You Can Do

Vote for Those Who Demand Action to Fight Climate Change
Tips on Cutting Energy Use
Mobilization of Renewables Resources Will Work and Here's How
Heat Plans for Cities - Detailed Look
Contact Us for More Information

Vote for Candidates for President and Congress Who Demand Action to Fight Climate Change
One of the most vital responsibilities our representatives in public office have is to protect our children, grand-children and future generations from damage to the environment they will inherit. Currently, the United States is derelict in addressing those responsibilities. If candidates for public office do not perform as showing concern for the environment, we must vote against their candidacy. Vote for those who care about this planet. One way to gauge incumbents performance is to view their environmental voting record on the scorecards of the League of Conservation Voters.

Tips on Cutting Energy Use:

• Compact fluorescent bulbs. Howard Geller, former chairman of the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy says replacing all US households’ incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs, “… alone could halt the growth in CO2 emissions from the United States, given recent growth rates.”
• When replacing home appliances, use energy efficient models. For example, replacing an old refrigerator using 320 watts with a new one using 85 watts could make a big difference. When buying appliances, look for the EPA/Department of Energy’s new Energy Star label.
• Use cars and light trucks that get good gas mileage. In fact tell your friends that driving a sports utility vehicle adds to global warming and pollution. SUVs emit 43% more global-warming pollutants (28 pounds of carbon dioxide per gallon) and 47% more air pollution than the average car. An SUV is 4 times as likely to rollover in an accident. [56] If car manufacturers were to increase their fleets' average gas mileage about 3 miles per gallon, this country could save a million barrels of oil every day, while US drivers would save $25 billion in fuel costs annually.  [81]
• Choose a company that offers for homes electricity generated by renewable energy sources.
• If possible, ask employer if your work could be done at home. Even if some of the work could be completed at your residence, this would help relieve traffic congestion, which adds to ordinary car emissions.
• Help promote community carpooling.
• Promote the construction of bike lanes, especially bike lanes that have an outside curb separating auto traffic and bikes. Establish numerous bike routes into center of city, limiting auto speed on these routes to 10 miles per hour, during commuting hours only.  Companies could provide showering facilities, together with bike stands to encourage biking employees.
• Place an insulating cover around water heater.
• Insulate walls and ceilings, and lower heating bills.
• When replacing windows, choose those that are the best energy saving models, such as double pane windows.
• A car needs only about 2 minutes to warm up. Taking more time only wastes fuel and contributes to global warming.
• Keep the door shut to any room that is not being used, saving the energy to heat that room.
• Take public transit whenever possible.
• Send e-mail to both your U.S. Senators in support of renewable energy legislation and the Kyoto Protocol. It's quick and easy.
• When shopping for groceries, bring your own cloth bag to the market. Not using paper grocery bags help saves trees, that absorb carbon dioxide.
  

Mobilization of Renewable Resources Will Work and Here's How
Writing in the August 24, 2001 issue of the journal "Science," associate professor Mark Jacobson and teaching professor Gilbert Masters, two energy experts from Stanford's Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, conclude that wind power is an abundant, clean and affordable alternative to coal and other fossil fuels. These researchers note in the article, “Much of the recent U.S. energy debate has focused on increasing coal use. However, the cost of wind energy is now less than that of coal." The direct cost of energy from large wind turbines has dropped to three to four cents per kilowatt-hour, comparable with that from new pulverized coal power plants. Given that "health and environmental costs (of coal) bring the total costs coal-generating electricity to 5.5 cents to 8.3 cents/per kilowatt hour," wind energy is unequivocally less expensive than is coal energy. Jacobson and Masters cite statistics from the Centers for Disease Control showing that coal dust kills some 2,000 U.S. mineworkers each year and has cost taxpayers about $35 billion in monetary and medical benefits to former miners since 1973.

If we are going to solve this country's energy problem and address the threat of climate change seriously, the U.S. needs to undertake the large scale program this article is talking about. The federal government could either go into the energy business for itself (TVA style), or it could foster wind energy through tax incentives that would utilize private investment. The scientists mention that the U.S. "could displace 10 % of U.S. coal at a cost of $61 to $80 billion......This could be supported at no net federal cost by investing 3% to 4% of one year's $2.02 trillion budget in turbines and selling the electricity over 20 years. California (example of a state taking the initiative) could provide 10% of its 1999 electricity by buying 4500 to 5000 turbines at 7.5% to 9.9% of one year's $101 billion budget and selling the electricity over 20 years." Furthermore, they calculate, by building from 214,000 to 236,000 turbines, America could eliminate almost two-thirds of its coal generated electricity, reducing its 1999 greenhouse gas emissions to seven percent below 1990 levels, thereby meeting the U.S target goal under the Kyoto Protocol.

Dr. Jacobsen has informed EcoBridge that subject wind turbines are the 1.5 megawatt (1000 kilowatts) kind, costing $1,000 per kilowatt or $1.5 million per 1.5 megawatt (MW) wind turbine. Actual turbine costs are about 80% of $1.5 million or $1.2 million, the remainder being primarily installation costs, specifically: grid connection (9%), foundation (4%), land (2%), electrical installation (2%), financing (1%), roads (1%), and consulting sessions (1%). If the U.S government produced the electricity, it could recoup its costs in 20 years in revenue from electricity generation, similar to its government-run TVA program. Annual maintenance of individual wind turbines would cost on average 1.5% - 2.5% of the cost of the wind turbine, running approximately about $18,000 to $30,000 annually.

The article states that one of the disadvantages of wind turbines is that they have been linked to the accidental deaths of migratory birds that get caught inside the powerful turbine blades. However, compared to the devastation that a full-blown climate change could cause bird species (see  The Present Danger of Global Warming - The Danger to Birds ), these turbine blades pose a fraction of the threat. And that can be overcome by placing the wind turbines out of migratory routes.

The authors end the Science article, saying, “By 2000, Germany had 6113 MW of installed turbines, more than the United States (2554 MW) or Denmark (2300 MW). Sweden and Denmark have wind parks offshore, where winds are faster than over land. Clearly, the United States has not maximized its wind potential.”  [105]


Suggested Safety Precautions In the Event of a Severe Heat Wave (To incorporate even more into this resolution see:  Heat Plans for Cities 

• Wear loose, preferably light cotton clothing. Wear a hat to protect the head from the sun.
• Eat light, cool, easily digested foods - avoid hot, heavy, greasy meals. Avoid using ovens.
• Drink lots of water and natural juices.
• Avoid alcoholic beverages, coffee and cola.
• Take a cool bath or shower periodically; use cool towels.
• Keep electric lights down low or turned off.
• Keep shades drawn and blinds closed, but windows slightly open.
• Protect against sunburn. A sunburn will reduce the body's ability to cool itself.
• Don't ever use a fan in a closed room without windows or doors open to the outside.**  Increased air movement (i.e, with fans) is associated with increased heat stress when the ambient temperature exceeds approximately 100 degrees Fahrenheit (the exact temperature varies with the humidity). Therefore, fans are not protective at temperatures higher than 90 degrees Fahrenheit, with humidity greater than 35%.
• Remember, children under 5 years old are especially sensitive to high temperatures.
• Do not leave children in a car. Babies are especially vulnerable.
• If you are elderly and feel unusually weak, dizzy or confused, call 911 immediately.
• Call your family and friends. Check on elderly or incapacitated persons as frequently as possible.
• Take advantage of air-conditioning. The use of air-conditioning reduces the risk for heatstroke and heat-related illness, even if it is available for only part of the day.
• Persons without home air conditioning should be encouraged and assisted in taking advantage of air-conditioned environments in private or public places such as libraries, shopping malls, theaters.
• This city will monitor nursing homes and other similar facilities serving senior citizens, making sure air-conditioners are in working order; that there are plenty of fans in the nursing facility; that outside concrete walks and patios, perhaps radiating heat inside the facility, were cooled off with water. All nursing homes should have independent electricity-generating equipment on hand in case of long-term power outages.
• Avoid physical activity, especially outside work and recreational activity

*   Most of these safety procedures are taken from heat plans of Kansas City, Chicago and St. Louis.
** This warning taken from Journal of the American Medical Association, July 20, 1994, Vol. 272, No.3, p.197.

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The following project ended on May 21, 2002 with a press conference that took place in Venice, Italy, making public a letter to President George W. Bush, asking him to reconsider his position on the Kyoto Protocol. Participants were Venice Mayor Paolo Costa, Oakland Mayor Jerry Brown, Barcelona Mayor Joan Clos and members of the Italian Senate and Parliament.

Coastal City Mayors Letter to President Bush and Signatories

Mr. George W. Bush
President of the United States of America
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500
United States of America
Fax +1.202.456-2461
president@whitehouse.gov

Dear Mr. President,

As Mayors, we would like  to underline the dangers  that our local communities, all located on delicate coastal areas, are facing due to global climate change caused by greenhouse gas emissions. Our cities will be heavily affected, not only by the raising of the sea level, but also by the probable intensification of extreme climatic conditions. The case of Venice and its lagoon is a prime example. A world cultural and environmental heritage of mankind is destined to suffer tremendously, because of the intensification of periodical flooding, by the effects of global climate changes.  Consequently, international support that Venice is receiving for its ordinary maintenance, much of it coming also from private donors from the United States, is bound to be rendered useless.

We are convinced that the role of  National governments must be supported by the voice of local governments  in order to tackle the task of reducing the dramatic effects on climate forecast by international experts. We are aware of the important responsibilities that cities will have to face in order to contribute to this task, and we are committed to take rapid and cogent actions by orienting our urban policies towards reducing greenhouse emission, specifically in the fields of energy, transport and waste treatment.

But we need to feel that we are part of a global plan which cannot pretend to be successful without the essential role of your Country. This is why we feel that we have to express our deepest concern about the position that your administration has recently assumed towards the Kyoto Protocol. We are convinced that the Kyoto  Protocol should not be discarded but reviewed and improved by exploiting its globality and flexibility.

We urge you to reconsider your position. We are confident that you are going to assume a leading and proactive role in fighting against global warming by contributing to create the reference framework within which we, as mayors of some of the more important coastal cities in the world, are going to concentrate the efforts of our local policies.

Sincerely,

1. Paolo Costa, Mayor of Venice, Italy
2. Cesar Maia, Mayor of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
3. Abdel Mounim Ariss, Mayor of Beirut, Lebanon
4. Kari Nenonen, Mayor of Oulu, Finland
5. Ormir Rusi, Mayor of Shkodra, Albania
6. Tarso Genro, Mayor of Porto Alegre, Brazil
7. Alan Lloyd, Mayor of Swansea Wales, UK
8. Vido Boddanovic, Mayor of Dubrovnik, Croatia
9. Joan Miquel Nadal I Male, Mayor of Tarragona, Spain
10. Joan Clos, Mayor of Barcelona, Spain
11. Inaki Azkuna, Mayor of Bilbao, Spain
12. Hirotaro Yamasaki, Mayor of Fukuoka, Japan
13. Mamadou Diop, Mayor of Dakar, Senegal
14. Fabio Sturani, Mayor of Ancona, Italy
15. Giuseppe Pericu, Mayor of Genoa, Italy
16. Simeone di Cagno Abbrescia, Mayor of Bari, Italy
17. Miri Hoti, Mayor of Durres, Albania
18. Sarlis Chryssanthos, Mayor of Corfu, Greence
19. W.J Deetman, Mayor to the Hague, The Netherlands
20. Mohammad Hanif, Mayor of Dhaka, Bangladesh
21. Jacques Peyrat, Mayor of Nice, France
22. Russell Goodway, Lord Mayor of Cardiff, Wales, UK
23. Mary Jane C. Ortega, Mayor of San Fernando, Philippines
24. Ivan Skaric, Mayor of Split, Croatia
25. Leona Detiege, Mayor of Antwerp, Belgium
26. Omar El Bahraoui, Mayor of Rabat, Morocco
27. Job Cohen, Mayor of Amsterdam, The Netherlands
28. Paul Schell & Greg Nickels, Former and current Mayors, Seattle,Washington, USA
29. Dimitris Z. Archondakis, Mayor of Rethymnon, Greece
30. Eric Milligan, Lord Provost of Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
31. Walter Veltroni, Mayor of Rome, Italy
32. Joao Barroso Soares, Mayor of Lisboa, Portugal
33. Anibal Ibarra, Mayor of Buenos Aires, Argentina
34. Andreas Dais, Mayor of Igoumenitsa, Greece
35. Mariano Arana, Mayor of Montevideo, Uruguay
36. Ken Livingstone, Mayor of London, England
37. Qassim Sultan, Director General of Dubai Muncipality, United Arab Emirates
38. Michael Mulcahy, Lord Mayor of Dublin, Ireland
39. Vojko Obersnel, Mayor of Rijeka, Croatia
40. Jens Kramer Mikkelsen, Lord Mayor of Copenhagen, Denmark
41. Rosa Russo Jervolino, Mayor of Naples, Italy
42. Umberto Scapagnini, Mayor of Catania, Italy
43. Per Ditlev Simonsen, Mayor of Oslo, Norway
44. Richard Leese, Leader of Manchester City Council
45. Alderman Peter Marais, Mayor of Cape Town, South Africa
46. Marc H. Morial, *Former Mayor of New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
47. Blas Aprile, Mayor of Mar del Plata, Argentina
48. Jerry Brown, Mayor of Oakland, California, USA
49. Tonis Palts, Mayor of Tallinn – Estonia
50. Jean – Paul L’Allier, Mayor of Quebec – Canada
51. Jim Soorley  Mayor of Brisbane, Queensland – Australia
52. Michael Feinstein, Mayor of Santa Monica, California, USA
53. Shirley Dean, Mayor of Berkeley, California, USA
54. Moti Lal, Mayor of Nausori, Fiji Islands,
55. Josephine M. Williams, J.P.Mayor of Nadi - Fiji Islands
56. Tadatoshi Akiba, Mayor of Hiroshima – Japan
57. Ying – jeou Ma, Mayor of Taipei – Taiwan
58. Cr. Lakshman Prasad Maharaj, Mayor of Lautoka - Fiji Islands
59. Pradeep Singh, Mayor of Labasa - Fiji Islands,
60. Frank Chang-ting Hsieh, Mayor of Kaohsiung – Taiwan
61. Kazutoshi Sasayama, Mayor of Kobe - Japan
62. Kevin Byrne, Mayor of Cairns, Queensland – Australia
63. Dannel P. Malloy, Mayor of Stamford, Connecticut, USA
64. Willie L. Brown, Jr., Mayor of San Francisco, California, USA
65. Mara Giulianti, Mayor of Hollywood, Florida, USA
66. Joel T. Daves, Mayor of West Palm Beach, Florida, USA
67. Joe Schreiber Mayor of Tamarac, Florida, USA
68. Jeremy Harris Mayor of Honolulu, Hawaii, USA
69. Thomas M. Menino, Mayor of Boston, Massachusetts, USA
70. Christopher Krohn, Mayor of Santa Cruz, California, USA
71. Mary Jane Carr, Lord Mayor of Newcastle, England (February 6, 2002)
72. Marty Blum, Mayor of Santa Barbara, California (February 13, 2002)
73. Lee B. Brown, Mayor of Houston, Texas ( March 14, 2002)
74. Paul D. Novack, Mayor of Surfside, Florida (April 19, 2002)
75. David Dermer, Mayor of Miami Beach, Florida (May 17, 2002)

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For More on Global Warming
There's a Lot You Can Do
What We Can Do To Reduce Energy Use
Evidence of Global Warming
Present Danger of Global Warming
Future Threat of Global Warming
Causes of Global Warming
Positive Feedback Loops
EcoBridge Global Warming Reference Page
Frequently Asked Questions About Global Warming
Current News on Global Warming
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