It is so inspiring to watch the Live Earth concert cities heighten awareness of global climate change and, most importantly, what every single one of us can do to “answer the call.” Local governments around the world have laid the foundation for successful, collective action on the climate front. They have crafted solutions when few existed and exhibited leadership when it was scarce.

At ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability, we work closely with about 800 cities around the world to design and implement performance-based, results-oriented programs to address climate protection. We walk local governments through a “Five Milestone” process where they calculate their current greenhouse gas emissions, set a goal for reducing those emissions, design a Climate Action Plan to meet those goals, and work to implement and monitor their progress. This yields tangible results and accountability.

Our work is proof that locally designed initiatives can provide an effective and cost-efficient way to achieve local, national, and global sustainability and climate protection objectives. For more than a decade, we’ve demonstrated that we can turn the problems associated with global climate change into profitable solutions that also make our communities cleaner, better places to live.

How can your city participate in Live Earth?
1. Pass a "Live Earth Day" resolution: download a sample resolution here, and let us know that it's been passed. Follow the lead of Los Angeles – the city just declared 7/7/07 “Live Earth Day”!
2. Host a "Friends of Live Earth" event in your city.
3. Implement some of the carbon reduction strategies and plans available at the "Live Earth Cities" page on the www.coolmayors.org site.
4. Click here to download and use on your municipal website to let the rest of the world know that your community is doing its part to combat the climate crisis.

What is the Cool Mayors Program?
A Cool Mayor is about climate and leadership. A Cool Mayor is about a can-do attitude and a solutions-oriented approach. A Cool Mayor is prepared to take on a difficult issue piece by piece and bring the community along. A Cool Mayor acts - to promote energy efficiency, pioneer renewable energy, recycle waste, plant trees, plan smart growth, reduce traffic congestion - whatever it takes to bring about climate protection, piece by piece, solution by solution.. Cool Mayors run small towns and large cities. They are working around the world and they cross political boundaries to get the job done. Mayors from the Live Earth cities are some of the many mayors from around the world who are already leading the charge and implementing solutions at the local level. Learn more about the steps these visionary local governments are taking at www.coolmayors.org.

 Michelle W. - International Climate Director for ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability and Executive Director of the organization’s US office