LOUISVILLE, Ky. (April 22, 2016) — Joined by local business leaders, Mayor Greg Fischer today signed the Compact of Mayors, the world’s largest cooperative effort among city leaders to reduce greenhouse gas emissions track progress and prepare for the impacts of climate change.
The signing ceremony, on Earth Day, is in support of the Climate Summit For Local Leaders, a global coalition of city leaders dedicated to taking climate actions in their communities. The Summit took place in Paris last year.
“Since I took office, I made a commitment that Louisville would be a leader in sustainability efforts and this Climate Compact is vital to that goal. I am proud to join fellow mayors worldwide in this important commitment,” said Mayor Greg Fischer. “Because climate change is a global issue, it is important that mayors from across the world and across the U.S. come together and take action for the future of our country. I am also pleased to join many local businesses that have also stepped up to lend their support for this important effort.”
By signing the Compact of Mayors, Mayor Fischer pledges to report climate risks faced by the city and complete a greenhouse gas emissions inventory within one year. Within two years, the city pledges to set Louisville’s greenhouse gas reduction target and report on the city’s climate vulnerabilities. Finally, within three years, Mayor Fischer pledges to report Louisville’s plans for climate change mitigation and adaptation.
“We are delighted to join a global network of cities that are responding to a call to action,” said Maria Koetter, Director of the Office of Sustainability. “By participating in the Compact, we are committing to measuring, tracking, reporting and reducing our contribution to climate change. Through this effort we will become a more resilient city.”
Mayor Fischer has received support for signing the Compact from major Louisville companies including Ford Motor Co., UPS, Humana, Yum! Brands and Brown-Forman.
“Measuring, reducing and reporting greenhouse gas emissions is consistent with the approach that Brown-Forman and other companies are taking,” said Jim Welch, Vice Chairman at Brown-Forman. “We applaud this commitment by the Mayor and offer our endorsement and support for achieving it.”
“We applaud the Mayor for his support of voluntary targets for GHG emission reductions,” said Jonathan Balas, Senior Manager of Global Sustainability at Yum! Brands, Inc. “The city’s effort is in alignment with our corporate direction to strive to reduce energy consumption and to take a transparent, supportive approach to voluntary GHG emissions.”
In 2008, the Air Pollution Control District completed the city’s first greenhouse gas inventory using data from 1990 and 2006. The forthcoming inventory will update that report.
Louisville Metro’s Office of Sustainability, established by Mayor Fischer in 2012, published the city’s first sustainability plan, Sustain Louisville in 2013. The plan outlines several goals that will contribute to greenhouse gas reductions. The goals target energy reduction citywide and within the city-owned buildings, solid waste reduction and decreased transportation-related greenhouse gas emission. Specific reduction efforts include a partnership with the Louisville Energy Alliance to reduce energy consumption in the commercial sector, the development of alternative strategies to finance renewable energy systems, a 10 year waste reduction feasibility study, the release and implementation of MOVE Louisville, internal energy savings performance contracts, and the addition of GPS systems to the city vehicle fleet to increase fuel efficiency.
For more information on the Compact of Mayors, visit http://www.compactofmayors.orgor https://louisvilleky.gov/government/sustainability.
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