For Immediate Release: 16 July 2007
Contact: Josh Dorner, 202.679.7570 (c), 202.675.2348 (w)

           "Cool Counties" Launch Major Global Warming Initiative
         Calls for 80 Percent Reduction in Carbon Emissions by 2050;
       Urges Action by the Federal Government on Warming, Fuel Economy

(Richmond, Va.)-Large counties from across the country today joined the
Sierra Club in announcing the creation of the Cool Counties Climate
Stabilization Declaration, a major new initiative to combat global warming.
The counties - led by King County, Washington, Fairfax County, Virginia,
and Nassau County, New York - pledge to reduce global warming emissions 80
percent by 2050, an achievable average annual reduction of 2 percent. The
Cool Counties Climate Stabilization Declaration also urges the federal
government to adopt legislation requiring an 80 percent emissions reduction
by 2050 and calls for fuel economy standards to be raised to 35 miles per
gallon within a decade.

"I am proud to stand here with the Sierra Club and my fellow county
officials to launch a powerful commitment to tackle the most important
challenge of our generation," said Ron Sims, King County Executive. "We no
longer have time to waste. We know what it takes to reduce CO2 emissions in
our regions and we owe it to our children and grandchildren to make the
tough decisions and right investments now."

In the face of continuing inaction at the federal level to combat some of
America's most pressing problems-global warming and our dangerous addiction
to oil-the Sierra Club has been working closely with cities, states, and
counties to implement policies that will help fight global warming, save
consumers and taxpayers money, and encourage the use of clean, renewable
energy. The Sierra Club's Cool Cities program encourages cities to sign on
and implement the U.S. Mayor's Climate Protection Agreement, initiated by
Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels in 2005.  Nearly 600 cities have signed on to
that agreement, 100 more than just a few months ago.

"The American public is clamoring for action to tackle global warming and
fix our badly broken energy policy," said Carl Pope, Sierra Club Executive
Director.  "While our leaders in Washington remain asleep at the wheel,
cities, states, and now counties are demonstrating extraordinary leadership
as they come together to address these pressing national concerns.  The
county leaders joining us today understand the seriousness of the problems
we face and are taking the kind of bold, visionary action that will protect
both our climate and their own citizens."

In addition to the principles embodied in the Cool Counties Declaration
itself-establishing a local greenhouse gas inventory and the target of an
80 percent reduction in global warming emissions by 2050, Fairfax County,
working in conjunction with the Sierra Club, has produced a roadmap showing
the kinds of concrete actions that counties can take to reduce their
emissions.  The roadmap lays out a template for reducing emissions through
actions in seven key areas: energy efficiency, renewable energy, greening
county vehicle fleets, land use, transportation, water conservation, and
educational outreach.

"Responding to global climate change may appear to be a daunting task, but
we as elected leaders can and must make strategic investments to reduce our
own emissions and lead by example within our communities," said Fairfax
County Board of Supervisors Chairman Gerald E. Connolly. "The national call
for a meaningful response to the threats of climate change has largely gone
unmet by our federal leaders. By marshaling the collective efforts of 3,066
counties, a campaign that begins today, we will deliver a cleaner, cooler
future for the next generation."

"As we wait for Washington to act, local governments must take immediate
action to address global warming," said Nassau County Executive Thomas R.
Suozzi." Nassau County, with its many coastal communities, is particularly
vulnerable to climate change. But we are not alone in this battle. Cool
Counties provides the framework we all need to reduce our emissions and
help solve the problem."

The launch counties represent a diverse array of some of America's largest
counties, including counties from every region in the country.  Over
17,000,000 people across ten states live in the founding counties
participating in today's event.  In addition to King, Fairfax, and Nassau
the founding counties include Arlington (VA), Montgomery and Queen Anne's
(MD), Miami-Dade (FL), Alameda (CA), Cook (IL), Shelby (TN), Hennepin (MN)
and Dane (WI).  Today's launch is merely the start of the Cool Counties
campaign and the lead counties-King, Fairfax, and Nassau-and the Sierra
Club will begin a major effort to add new counties to the initiative, as
well as provide new and existing members information to assist them in
developing their implementation plans.

New Tools for Cool Cities--600 Strong and Growing

As the number of cities signing the U.S. Mayor's Climate Protection
Agreement has grown to nearly 600--with over 200 local Sierra Club Cool
Cities campaigns to match--the needs of local activists have grown
tremendously.  In response, the Sierra Club will soon unveil a completely
revamped and upgraded www.coolcities.us website.  It will be significantly
more user-friendly and include a multitude of new features designed to help
local activists engage with one another and make their Cool Cities
campaigns more effective.  The new website will be unveiled Thursday, July
26th.

The Sierra Club will also soon unveil a new online tool for Cool Cities and
Cool Counties to use in order to understand the benefits of greening their
fleets.  This comprehensive tool will allow fleet managers to understand
the benefits in terms reduced emissions and dramatically decreased fuel
costs offered by greening their fleets with hybrids and other efficient
vehicles.

Leaders from counties across the country are eager to take action and had
the following comments on the Cool Counties Declaration:

Alameda County, CA:
"We see the Cool Counties partnership as a key step towards local
government leading the nation on reducing greenhouse gas emissions and
preparing for climate change," said Scott Haggerty, President of Alameda
County Board of Supervisors. "We're working with our cities through the
Alameda County Climate Protection project to address climate change within
our own county. With the State of California and our Cool Counties
partners, we call on the federal government to set strong national goals,
support state and local leadership, and realignment of national energy,
transportation, and agriculture policies to stimulate new and existing
clean technologies at a large scale."

Arlington County, VA:
"Arlington County adopted Fresh AIRE (Arlington Initiative to Reduce
Emissions) on Jan. 1, committing to reduce County government emissions 10
percent by 2012," said Paul Ferguson, Arlington County Board Chairman.
"The fight against global warming requires the commitment of every city and
county across this nation. Arlington is proud to join the first wave of
Counties that have agreed to an emissions reduction plan. The significance
of this partnership lies in the fact that each of the localities has agreed
to take inventory of their total greenhouse gas emissions and has committed
to a plan for reducing emissions. It is important that local governments
join together and act--because the federal government has failed to do so.
We thank Fairfax County Chairman Gerry Connelly and King County Executive
Ron Sims for their leadership on this issue."

Cook County, IL:
"Cook County is committed to leading by example in the effort to reduce
greenhouse gasses," said Cook County Board President Todd H. Stroger. "As
the County that houses the City of Chicago and its dynamic suburbs, we know
that our efforts have the opportunity to immediately impact literally
millions of people in the region--and our partnership in Cool Counties and
our commitment to its goals is a linchpin in our efforts."

Dane County, WI:
"In Dane County, Wisconsin we proved you can be a cool county, reduce
greenhouse air pollution and save taxpayers money at the same time," said
Supervisor Brett Hulsey, Chair of the Dane County Finance Committee. "Our
efforts like more efficient lighting and buildings save taxpayers $150,000
in energy costs and reduce greenhouse air pollution by 5,000,000 pounds per
year. We know if counties can do it, America can cut its greenhouse air
pollution also."

Hennepin County, MN:
"Halting global warming will require the mobilization of individuals and
institutions --- public and private --- around the world.  This is
America's counties' contribution to this historic undertaking," said
Hennepin County Commissioner Peter McLaughlin.

Miami-Dade County, FL:
"Miami-Dade County has been a leader in the fight against global climate
change for over a decade, including our recent decision to join the Chicago
Climate Exchange, making a legally binding commitment to reduce our
government's greenhouse gas emissions," said Natacha Seijas, Miami-Dade
County Commissioner. "One of the most important lessons learned from our
work over this time is a recognition of the need to coordinate local,
regional and national climate policy to effect meaningful change. The Cool
Counties Declaration does just that. I will encourage passage of this
declaration in Miami-Dade county first and then look forward to working
with leading governments across the country."

Montgomery County, MD:
"Montgomery County is a leader in the fight against global warming and we
are making a difference through our initiatives to cut greenhouse gases,"
said Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett. "We are proud to join the
Cool Counties Program as we continue to do all we can on the local level to
safeguard our climate and set a course for future improvements.  But, we
can't do it alone.  For our actions to be successful, the states and the
Federal government must also be at forefront of efforts to reduce these
harmful emissions."

Queen Anne's County, MD:
"Queen Anne's County, Maryland, Gateway to the Eastern Shore, is proud to
be among the first Maryland counties to sign the U.S. Cool Counties
Stabilization Declaration.  We look forward to implementing the commitments
we have made to achieve the 2050 goal and beyond," said Queen Anne's County
Commissioner Carol R. Fordonski.

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