Project Introduction

On Jan 15 of this year, the Traverse City Commissioners unanimously joined hundreds of cities across the nation - including Ann Arbor, Grand Rapids and Marquette - in giving support to the US Mayor's Climate Protection Agreement. This agreement calls for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions below 1990 levels by 2012.

Both the City of TC and Grand Traverse County have decided to take measure of our current GHG emissions by working with an organization called ICLEI: Local Governments For Sustainability, on their Cities for Climate Protection campaign. This international campaign works with local governments worldwide to achieve quantifiable reductions in GHG emissions. The ICLEI methodology provides a simple, standardized way to measure, monitor, and report performance. SEEDS was hired to gather data and citizen input; we are truly in this project together.

Why is reducing emissions important work? Leaving aside global climate change and its causes and implications, there are many reasons to focus on reducing our emissions at the local level:

1. Cost savings through improving lighting, heating, & transportation efficiencies,
2. A cleaner environment with improved air quality & reduced non-point-source pollutants,
   
3. Enhanced quality of life with more transportation choices & a safer environment.
   

The hope is that after knowing what we are collectively emitting right now, we can set obtainable future targets and then obtain those targets. In the words of the July 24 Record Eagle, "The important thing is that the city and county will look for ways to be more efficient, and being more efficient is a good way to not only save money but reduce greenhouse emissions. That's a very good thing."

We agree and are excited to embark on this project with the City, the County and with all the residents and visitors to our region.