The U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM) and the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) announced they will work together to green the nations’ schools.
Yesterday the USCM announced the formation of the Mayors’ Alliance for Green Schools, a coalition that will work to implement programs supporting a 2007 resolution calling for green schools for all children within a generation.
"As mayors, we know all too well that schools are the heart of our communities, as they represent the promise we make to our children and future generations, a promise of learning and of opportunity," said Mayor Diaz, President of the USCM. "With this alliance, we are coming together and reconfirming our promise to the health and learning of our children, and ensuring that future generations are mindful of the importance of protecting our environment."
"I’ve seen the enormous impact mayors have when they unite around a common goal," said Mayor Greg Nickels of Seattle, who launched the US Mayors Climate Protection Agreement in 2005, which advances the goals of the Kyoto Protocol and now boasts nearly 900 mayor signatories. "This new coalition of mayors will shine the light on the countless opportunities to make our schools greener, our students and teachers healthier and our communities stronger."
"As first responders to the needs of their communities, mayors are the vanguard of sustainable development in our country," said Rick Fedrizzi, president, CEO and founding chair of USGBC, "and USGBC wants to do all we can to support them, especially in this critically important initiative. "We have Green School Advocacy Committees in 80 local USGBC chapters throughout the country, and we are putting them at the mayors’ disposal to advance opportunities, programs and initiatives that champion green school causes and help them publicly celebrate their successes."
Alliance initiatives will work to:
- Develop and create public-private partnerships with a local business to allow schools to plant a green roof, install a solar garden or start a recycling program.
- Help school districts green their existing facilities through the Clinton Climate Initiative’s K-12 Retrofit Program.
- Encourage state legislatures to create policies and incentives for green school improvements.
- Engage in a national dialogue about green schools, green jobs and green infrastructure.
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