On May 15th, this year, the City of Hillsboro took two decided steps to show its support for reducing greenhouse emissions, and to move toward cutting emissions city-wide.  First of all Hillsboro (Oregon's fifth largest city) endorsed the US Mayors Climate Protection Agreement, which calls on local governments across the United States to make up for federal inaction on global warming by reducing greenhouse emissions themselves.  Secondly, Hillsboro resolved to become a member of the International Council of Local Environmental Initiatives' (ICLEI's) Cities for Climate Protection Campaign.  As an ICLEI member, and a participator in the Climate Campaign, Hillsboro would work with ICLEI staff to conduct an inventory of current greenhouse emissions sources, set a goal for reducing those emissions, and carry out a plan to reach that goal.  This is even more important than Hillsboro endorsing the Mayors Agreement; the Agreement showed Hillsboro's public support for action against global warming, but as a member of ICLEI's campaign, the city will get down to the nitty-gritty details of actually lowering emissions.  This could make Hillsboro a model for other mid-size suburbs in Oregon that would like to fight global warming.

With all of this said, I'm happy to report that Hillsboro has now completed the ICLEI membership application process, and is an official member city.  Rob Dixon, Assistant City Manager, and designated representative to ICLEI, says, "We have begun our evaluation of what it means and what it will take to reach our emissions-reduction goals."  Hillsboro could be on its way to joining such cities as Portland and Eugene, as one of Oregon's real leaders in greenhouse emission-reduction.  And for a city that is experiencing new growth all the time, as more and more people flock there from out-of-state, that is truly exciting news.

Hillsboro's recent actions show how a local government can rise to the challenge of global warming, and take meaningful action to reduce its environmental impact.  Now we need other cities and counties to do the same.  Specifically, Washington County (which includes Hillsboro) should pass the US Cool Counties Climate Stabilization Declaration, and move forward on the Declartion's "roadmap" for emissions-reduction.  Then Hillsboro and the County will be able to work together to this a more climate-friendly region.  Please help by asking the Washington County Board of Commissioners to pass the Declaration!

-Nick