Windsor joins others in effort to protect climate

Thinking of the Future Windsor Council-member Debora
Fudge was accompanied by Florencia Sund to a recent gathering about
climate protection at the Luther Burbank home
by DAWN PILLSBURY, Staff Writer
Sonoma County will get an update on efforts to reduce greenhouse
gas emissions from government activities next Tuesday. The county
was the first in the U.S. to have all of its municipalities pass
resolutions to join in the Cities for Climate Protection campaign,
aimed reducing the amount of fossil fuels burned.
More than 550 cities and counties around the globe – 140 of them
in the U.S. – are participating the campaign.
Windsor Town Council-member Debora Fudge said, “It’s really
important that we take action now to reduce greenhouse gases so the
future generations can enjoy the same quality of life that we
have.”
Representatives from the county and cities gathered in Santa
Rosa at the Luther Burbank Home on Sept. 3. Each brought a child,
representing commitment to the future.
“I don’t understand how anyone would be willing to take a risk
that they are harming their children or grandchildren by ignoring
the signs of climate change, and not try to do something about it,”
said Fudge who was accompanied by Florencia Sund, 15.
The campaign calls for cities to take a greenhouse gas
inventory, set a target for reduction, make a plan to meet that
target, implement it and monitor progress.
So far, Santa Rosa has completed the first step and the county
has completed the first two. Other cities are still working on
their inventories.
The county, which is spending $25,000 on the project, generates
the equivalent of 37,700 tons of carbon dioxide every year from
activities ranging from county employee commuting to the gas-fired
heat in the county jail. Its plan should bring gas emissions to
30,000 tons per year by 2010, according to staff.
The climate change project team will make a presentation about
progress to the Board of Supervisors from 8:30 a.m. to noon on
Sept. 23.
Santa Rosa Supervisor Tim Smith, representing the Board of
Supervisors, said, “I’d like to see a cooperative effort from
government, the community at large and the private sector, first to
realize that there is a problem and then to work cooperatively to
help resolve it.” Smith was accompanied by his granddaughter,
Hailey Mason, 8.
At the Sept. 3 gathering, representatives expressed hope for the
campaign.
“The inventory is a good thing to help us know our starting
point,” said Healdsburg City Council-member Lisa Schaffner.
Healdsburg signed onto the initiative on July 1, 2002.
Schaffner, who brought her daughter, McKenzie, 7, said, “This
program seems reasonable and balanced … I feel we can do a little
bit and build on it.”
Sebastopol City Council-member Sam Spooner brought his three
children: Sierra, 18, Aaron,13, and Rowan, 8.
“I am confident we can significantly reduce greenhouse gas
emissions in Sebastopol,” he said.
Sonoma City Council-member Ken Brown said, “Let’s stop the
cynicism and get on with what is possible.” He brought his
21-month-old daughter, Eden Brown.
“I think people will work hard to make this a beautiful planet,”
said Maya Lopez-Sanchez, 10, a student at Mark West Elementary.
“Some things may happen that I’m afraid of, but I think people will
work hard to keep it safe for us.”
Ann Hancock of Graton, coordinator of the Sonoma County Climate
Protection Campaign, recommends parking at the Sheriff’s building,
about a 10-minute walk to the supervisor’s chambers.
For more information, visit www.skymetrics.us.