December 3 is being planned as an international day of action, to coincide with first Meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol, in Montreal, from Nov. 28 to Dec. 9. U.S. organizations have united under the banner of “Climate Crisis, USA Join the World!”

The Montgomery County Green Party has decided to take the opportunity to lobby Baltimore Mayor Martin O’Malley to join the U.S. Mayors’ Climate Protection Agreement and pledge to reduce the city’s greenhouse gas emissions to 7% below 1990 levels by 2012.

As of today, 188 mayors representing over 40 million Americans have signed the agreement. The consultant firm, Climate Group, has certified that 17 cities have already lowered their emissions to 1990 levels or below, saving those cities $600 million.

Every major east coast city from Boston to Washington, D.C. has signed the treaty–except for Baltimore. Philadelphia has established a 12 point program to increase efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Sadly, Annapolis is the only one of the 188 cities that is in Maryland. We believe that this calls for a campaign to urge Mayor O’Malley to sign the agreement. Now is a particularly good time to raise the issue since Mayor O’Malley is considering a run for governor next year. He should go on the record on the issue.

The Mayor can be contacted by writing to City Hall, Room 250, 100 N. Holliday Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21202, by calling (410) 396-3835 or faxing (410) 576-9425, or emailing mayor@baltimorecity.gov . Make your voice heard on this issue!

Here is the letter I sent to Mayor O’Malley:

Mayor Martin O’Malley
City Hall, Room 250
100 N. Holliday Street
Baltimore, Maryland 21202

Dear Mayor O’Malley;
I am writing to you concerning the Climate Conference in Montreal, Canada that is being held from Nov. 28 to Dec. 9. This will be the first meeting since the signing of the Kyoto Protocol on global warming. It is also a sad reminder that the Bush administration has failed to anything about this vital issue.

The American people want action on this issue. According to polls, a majority of Americans believe that global warming is a problem. A Harris poll this year found that 74% of Americans agreed with the statement, “Protecting the environment is so important that requirements and standards cannot be too high, and continuing environmental Improvements must be made regardless of cost.” The organization Climate Crisis, USA Join the World has collected 40,000 signatures on a petition calling on U.S. officials to recognize the treaty.

One of the few hopeful developments has been the grass roots movement among U.S. Mayors to meet or exceed the Kyoto targets in their cities. As of October 21, 2005 187 mayors representing nearly 40 million Americans, have signed the agreement. Many have already reported significant reductions in their greenhouse gas emissions. According to Climate Group, a British-based consultant, 17 major U.S. cities have lowered their emissions below 1990 levels and saved $600 million.

Sadly, Annapolis is the only city in Maryland that has signed this agreement. The coming Climate Conference would make a good opportunity for Baltimore to join that list. Boston, New York City, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. have all signed the agreement. Baltimore remains a conspicuous absentee.

I urge you to right this situation and sign the agreement. For your convenience, I am enclosing a copy of the agreement and the signature page.
Sincerely,

Tim Willard
Co-chair, Montgomery County Green Party