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City of Seattle
Gregory J. Nickels, Mayor
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NEWS ADVISORY
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| SUBJECT: A Climate of Change: The Seattle Initiative on Global Warming
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
3/22/2006 1:30:00 PM |
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Alex Fryer (206) 684-8358
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A Climate of Change: The Seattle Initiative on Global Warming
Mayor announces two days of events drawing attention to threat
of global warming
and what Seattle is doing to make a difference
SEATTLE - Mayor Greg Nickels today announced two days of events calling attention
to the threat of global warming and what Seattle is doing to make a difference.
Dubbed “A Climate of Change: The Seattle Initiative on Global Warming,” the
series of events culminates Friday morning at 10:15 when the mayor receives
the recommendations of his Green Ribbon Commission on how Seattle can significantly
reduce global warming pollution to meet or beat the goals of the Kyoto Protocol.
“I convened this Green Ribbon Commission last year because our national
leaders were not leading us in the fight against global warming. I look forward
to the commission’s recommendations on how Seattle can continue making
a difference in this fight to save our planet,” said Nickels.
Former Vice President Al Gore will speak at the Friday event in the Bertha
Knight Landes Room in City Hall.
Co-chaired by Earth Day founder Dennis Hayes and Orin Smith, former chief
executive of Starbucks, the Green Ribbon Commission’s recommendations
will provide the foundation for efforts to cut greenhouse gas emissions citywide
by 7 percent compared to 1990 levels. Details of the recommendations will be
released Friday. The mayor will build on the recommendations and, later this
year, propose specific steps to meet the Kyoto target within six years.
Nickels convened the 18-member commission last February, at the same time
he launched the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement. Frustrated by inaction
on global warming at the federal level, Nickels challenged other mayors from
across the country to join him in a pledge to meet or beat the emissions reduction
goals of the Kyoto Protocols.
So far, 218 mayors, representing 44 million Americans in 39 states, have accepted
Nickels’ challenge. It has sparked a powerful, bi-partisan, grassroots
effort that is raising awareness and inspiring action across the nation, and
changing the debate on how the country should confront global warming.
The “Climate of Change” series begins tomorrow (Thursday) afternoon,
with Gore’s powerful presentation on the threat global warming poses
for the future of the planet. The invitation-only event will be held at Benaroya
Hall. Nickels will introduce the former vice president.
Following Gore’s presentation on Thursday, the mayor will introduce
New Yorker writer Elizabeth Kolbert at Town Hall. She will deliver a lecture
based on her compelling research into the toll global warming is already taking
on the planet, and what may lay in store for humanity if action is not taken
now. The lecture begins at 7:30 p.m. and is open to the public. Town Hall is
located at the corner of Eighth Avenue and Seneca Street in Seattle. Tickets
are $5 and are available at the door only.
Kolbert traveled from Alaska to Greenland, and visited top scientists, to
get to the heart of the debate over global warming. Her three-part series on
climate change appeared in The New Yorker in 2005; and her new book, Field
Notes from a Catastrophe: Man, Nature and Climate Change grew out of the articles.
It is published by Bloomsbury.
Note to media: Press should plan to arrive by 9:45 a.m. to cover Friday’s
event. At 11:15 a.m., following the presentation, the mayor and members of
the Green Ribbon Commission will take questions from the press.
Gore’s Thursday presentation is closed to the media.
Visit the mayor’s web site at www.seattle.gov/mayor. Get the mayor’s
inside view on initiatives to promote transportation, public safety, economic
opportunity and healthy communities by signing up for The Nickels Newsletter
at www.seattle.gov/mayor/newsletter_signup.htm
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Office of the Mayor
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