Date: Thu, 24 Sep 2009 09:51:34 -0400
From: Randy E
Subject: Chatham Coalition wants Chatham County to be a “Cool County”
Found this on the Chatham Bulletin Board at
http://chatham-county-nc.com/bulletinboard/index.php/topic,15178.0.html
Watch your tax dollars burn with the Chatham Coalition’s “Cool County” Global Warming Initiative
Vision:Leadership is needed at all levels of government to address the local impacts of global warming and climate change. Chatham must join other counties across the United States in taking proactive steps to reduce our carbon footprint, and assist our citizens and businesses in making our county “green” and sustainable. Our vision begins with governmental, civic
and business leaders in Chatham County immediately (1) acknowledging the seriousness of climate change, (2) undertaking studies to determine how climate change will impact Chatham County and (3) replacing outdated economic development and environmental protection policies with ones that address the challenges of climate change. Chatham County should become a model for how county and local governments can address climate change.
* Describe climate change Impacts- Chatham must establish a task force to examine and describe the most likely impacts on our county over the next 30 to 40 years as a basis for formulating ongoing policies.
* Develop economic, environmental, educational and social policies that address impacts of climate change- These policies must incorporate sustainability, resource limits, energy conservation, and reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.
* Educate citizens- Citizens must have comprehensive information to participate in decisions and support the changes required to respond to the challenges of climate change. Given the disconcerting nature of climate change impacts, these educational efforts are critical in overcoming a natural reluctance to accept the need for immediate and strong actions.
* Develop action plan- In addition to current efforts to update ordinances and policies, we must expand and add policies and ordinances that give us the tools to adapt to and mitigate our contribution to climate change. These include: green building codes, energy conservation, forest protection, tree planting, mixed use development, transit-oriented development, bicycle and pedestrian corridors and most importantly developing within the limits of the county’s carrying capacity.
* Adopt “Cool County” Initiative- Chatham must sign on to the Cool County Initiative.