This is Part III in a 7-part series “All About ICLEI”
All About ICLEI: Part I – The Mayor’s Speech
All About ICLEI: Part II – The ICLEI Pilot Program
In Part I and II we heard from Mayor Bramson, and begun to unravel the organizations behind ICLEI and the often vague or undefined terms used to describe ICLEI, which we now continue.
What are the Five Milestones for Climate Mitigation?
The methodology underlying the Five Milestones provides a simple, standardized means of calculating greenhouse gas emissions, of establishing targets to lower emissions, of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and of monitoring, measuring and reporting performance. ICLEI has developed a software tool, Clean Air Climate Protection (CACP), that helps cities comply with the methodology.
What is the Clean Air Climate Protection software tool?
- CACP 2009 is a one-stop emissions management tool that calculates and tracks emissions and reductions of greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide) and criteria air pollutants (NOx, SOx, carbon monoxide, volatile organic compounds, PM10, PM 2.5) associated with electricity, fuel use, and waste disposal. This tool can help you do the following:
- Quantify the effect of existing and proposed emissions reduction measures.
- Predict future emissions levels.
- Set reduction targets and track progress towards meeting those goals.
Create emissions inventories for the community as a whole or for the government’s internal operations.
What is STAR?
STAR will be launched by 2010, and is currently being developed through a partnership between ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability (ICLEI), the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), and the Center for American Progress (CAP).
What is the U.S. Green Building Council?
The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) is a Washington, D.C.-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization committed to a prosperous and sustainable future for our nation through cost-efficient and energy-saving green buildings. USGBC works toward its mission of market transformation through its LEED green building certification program, robust educational offerings, a nationwide network of chapters and affiliates, the annual Greenbuild International Conference & Expo, and advocacy in support of public policy that encourages and enables green buildings and communities.
What is LEED?
The LEED® green building certification program is a voluntary, consensus-based national rating system for buildings designed, constructed and operated for improved environmental and human health performance. LEED addresses all building types and emphasizes state-of-the-art strategies in five areas: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials and resources selection, and indoor environmental quality.
What is the Center for American Progress?
Founded in 2003, CAP is headed by John D. Podesta, former chief of staff to President Bill Clinton and professor at the Georgetown University Law Center. CAP is designed to provide long-term leadership and support to the progressive movement. Our ability to develop thoughtful policy proposals and engage in the war of ideas with conservatives is unique and effective.
The Washington Post reports that money used to found CAP came from billionaire George Soros and mortgage billionaires Herbert and Marion Sandler; many former CAP staff now work for the Obama administration.
Who is George Soros?
Soros is chairman of Soros Fund Management and the Open Society Institute and a former member of the Board of Directors of the Council on Foreign Relations. He played a significant role in the peaceful transition from Communism to Capitalism in Hungary (1984-89), and provided Europe’s largest ever higher education endowment to Central European University in Budapest. Later, his funding and organization of Georgia’s Rose Revolution was considered by Russian and Western observers to have been crucial to its success. In the United States, he is known for having donated large sums of money in an effort to defeat President George W. Bush’s bid for re-election in 2004. He helped found the Center for American Progress.