Background

All nine Sonoma cities and the County have pledged to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions as part of a worldwide effort led by the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives - ICLEI. Never before in this country has an area had 100 percent of its municipalities make such a pledge. Cornell University researcher Bogdan Vasi noted that Sonoma County is in the midst of making history with its climate protection activities.

Over 550 cities and counties around the globe - 140 of them in the U.S. - participate in ICLEI's "Cities for Climate Protection" campaign by following a five-step program:

1. Calculate their GHG emissions
2. Set a target for reducing them
3. Make a plan for meeting their target
4. Implement the plan
5. Monitor and adjust as appropriate

To date the City of Santa Rosa has completed the first step, and the County of Sonoma has completed the first two steps.

• County of Sonoma GHG Inventory Report [523k]
• City of Santa Rosa GHG Inventory Report [587k]

The other Sonoma cities agreed to work together to calculate their emissions.

City Resolutions

• Santa Rosa passed a resolution on December 4, 2001.
• Sebastopol passed a resolution on January 15, 2002.
• Petaluma issued a proclamation in March 2002, and passed a resolution on August 5, 2002.
• Cotati passed a resolution on April 10, 2002.
• The City of Sonoma passed a resolution on May 1, 2002.
• Windsor passed a resolution on June 5, 2002
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• Rohnert Park passed a resolution on June 11, 2002.
• Healdsburg passed a resolution on July 1, 2002.
• Cloverdale passed a resolution on July 24, 2002.
• Sonoma County passed a resolution on August 20, 2002.

Having 100% of local jurisdictions commit to climate protection sets a national precedent.

View samples of city resolutions:

• Santa Rosa Resolution
• Healdsburg Resolution