Email the Speaker - Cut & paste the text below into the webpage.

Sample Letter in Support of Intro 20:

Date:  

March 23^rd, 2006

Christine Quinn

Council Speaker

New York City Council                                                                      

Dear Honorable Speaker Quinn,

I am writing to ask you to support Intro. 20, a bill that lays out concrete plans to measure and reduce greenhouse gas emissions from New York City government operations to combat global climate change (a.k.a. "global warming").

Intro. 20 would:

• Create a framework of transparency with annual reporting of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and efficiency plans submitted to taxpayers to ensure legal compliance with goals and targets.  
• It also commits the city to 20% reductions of GHGs from a 1994 baseline by 2009 and stipulates further reductions of 25% by 2015 and 30% by 2020.  This will make the government more efficient and cost-effective.
• It creates a framework for involving private sector partners and it covers all city operations.

 I strongly urge you to sponsor this important bill and encourage its passage into law by the city council.

There are many reasons why this bill should be enacted such as: 

1.) This bill will help solidify New York ’s leadership in addressing climate change. 

2.) Recently the world's 10 foremost scientific foundations, including the National Academy of Sciences, issued a join statement reaffirming that the Earth's climate was indeed warming and that human-based emissions of greenhouse gases were the direct cause.  The statement included policy recommendations, such as tracking and reducing emissions of the greenhouse gases.  These are the kinds of steps that are included in Intro.20.3.) New York City was recently determined to have the country's third worst air quality among major U.S. cities.  Intro.20 would begin to address this problem by reducing air pollution associated with the burning of fossil fuels, which are also the source of greenhouse gas emissions. 

4.) New York City ’s children have the highest asthma rate of any major metropolitan area in the U.S. This crisis would be in part addressed by Intro.20, as emissions from city government operations are one of the sources of pollution that result in higher asthma rates.  Leadership by the city will help set the tone for private engagement on this issue through the Climate Action Partnership program, a key provision of Intro.20.

5.) Given rising energy prices and the budget deficits faced by the city, a comprehensive program to reduce energy use by city operations makes very good economic sense and will save tax payers money by lower the operating the city operating budget.

6.) New York City must act now, act boldly, and be a leader in combating global warming.  Other cities look to New York for leadership.  By adopting innovative policy solutions, such as Intro.20, we can also make an impact beyond New York through leadership by example. 

Please help New York City move in the right direction and give Intro.20 your full and vocal support. 

Sincerely ,                    

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