Oregon Counties to Fight Global Warming Regionally
A national first was achieved on April 10 when two adjoining counties passed resolutions in tandem to sign the Cool Counties Climate Stabilization Initiative, part of the Sierra Club's Cool Cities program. Clackamas and Multnomah Counties, which include most of Greater Portland, became Oregon's first Cool Counties when they jointly signed a declaration to combat global warming and create new jobs in the green economy.
The two counties, home to just under 30 percent of Oregon's population, announced their declarations at a joint press conference to highlight the importance of regional coordination in creating climate action plans. There are now 30 Cool Counties nationwide, in addition to nearly 1,000 Cool Cities.
Clackamas County Chair Lynn Peterson and Multnomah County Commissioner Jeff Cogen, pictured at top flanking Sierra Club organizer Christine Caurant, spoke about efforts already underway, like constructing LEED-certified buildings and investing in renewable energy to power county operations, and urged other counties to sign on and make Oregon the nation's first Cool State. Above, Cogan adds Multnomah County to the list. Below, Peterson speaks with reporters. At bottom, Oregon Sierra Club staffers Emily Bartha, Nat Parker, and Ivan Maluski record the event for posterity.
"It's leaders at the local level who are taking decisive action on global warming," says Caurant. "Getting Cool Counties passed in these two counties was a result of efforts by impassioned Sustainability Managers and willingness by new commissioners Cogen and Peterson to move their counties forward. We've still got one more county (Washington) in the Portland metro area that isn't yet ready to sign on, so we'll be working in the coming months to help residents there flex their Cool County grassroots muscles."
Read about what you can do to make yours a Cool County.
