Blacksburg, VA Task Force on Climate Protection and Sustainability
Type: Policy
Status: Adopted in 2006
Source File: http://www.blacksburg.gov/Index.aspx?page=412
Description:
Background
On November 28, 2006 the Blacksburg Town Council passed Resolution 11-E-06 endorsing the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement and authorizing the Mayor to sign the agreement. The resolution obligated the Town of Blacksburg to work in conjunction with ICLEI Local Governments for Sustainability and other appropriate organizations to track progress and implementation of the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement.
The U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement includes three commitments:
- Strive to meet or beat the Kyoto Protocol targets in their own communities, through actions ranging from anti-sprawl land-use policies to urban forest restoration projects to public information campaigns;
- Urge their state governments, and the federal government, to enact policies and programs to meet or beat the greenhouse gas emission reduction target suggested for the United States in the Kyoto Protocol -- 7% reduction from 1990 levels by 2012; and
- Urge the U.S. Congress to pass the bipartisan greenhouse gas reduction legislation, which would establish a national emission trading system.
The Town of Blacksburg joined ICLEI Local Governments for Sustainability in January 2007 and committed to the Cities for Climate Protection (CCP) Campaign. Mayor Ron Rordam is the Elected Liaison member and the Staff Liaison member is Kelly Mattingly.
Task Force Formation
In January 2007, the Mayor’s Task Force on Climate Protection & Sustainability was established to implement the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement. The Mayor’s Task Force includes 14 members representing a cross section of the community:
- Chairperson – Mayor Ron Rordam
- Community Representatives - Gloria Schoenholtz, David Roper, and Bill Claus
- Industry Representatives - Joe Meredith, Jim Keaney, Todd Holt, and Joyce Graham
- University Representatives - Sean McGinnis, John Randolph, Thomas King, Denny Cochrane, and Fran DeBellis
- Government Representatives - Kelly Mattingly and Susan Garrison
Task Force Goals & Objectives
The immediate goals of the Mayor’s Task Force are to prepare a community greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory and emissions forecast, adopt emission reduction targets, and draft the community’s Climate Action Plan.
The community Climate Action Plan is a description of the actions, (policies, programs, and projects), the community will need to take to meet its GHG reduction target. While it will be built around the mitigation measures and activities the community already has in place, new mitigation measures will be necessary to close the gap between the projected emissions growth and the emissions reduction targets. The identification of potential mitigation measures will require a significant and collaborative effort by stakeholders from throughout the community. Workgroups will be investigating opportunities related to energy use, transportation, land use and waste reduction, both in the town government operations and within the community. Public meetings will be held throughout the year to solicit input from the community and to provide the public with updates on the community Climate Action Plan.