From the summer of 2005 to the fall of 2007, I had the priviledge of working with some remarkable people to convince the city council of Hillsboro, Oregon to adopt a resolution on sustainability which ensures that the city will sign onto the US Mayors Climate Protection Agreement, and become a member of the International Council of Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI).  Hillsboro will still face many decisions regarding what kind of action to take and how to make its communities more sustainable.  It will be important that the city councilors and Mayor Tom Hughes hold fast to the commitment they have made, and take tangible steps to curb global warming.  However, the resolution that the council passed is a remarkable first step.  Now the city has signed onto the Mayors Agreement, and it is applying for membership in ICLEI.  By working with ICLEI staff, Hillsboro will be able to inventory current sources of greenhouse emissions, set a goal for reducing them, and then take real steps to curb emissions.  Hillsboro is the fifth largest city in Oregon, and for it to commit to this kind of goal is a big deal. 

To ensure that Hillsboro follows through with its commitment, the local government needs to hear from people who care about the future of the planet, and who appreciate what the city is trying to do.  Whether you live inside Hillsboro or not, please click here to send an email to Mayor Tom Hughes, thanking him for helping to move this project toward completion.