CITIZENS INVITED TO ATTEND COMMUNITY CONVERSATION ON ENERGY AND CLIMATE

The public is encouraged to attend the Community Conversation on Energy and Climate on Earth Day, Wed., April 22, 2009, 1pm – 5pm at the Venice Community Center 326 S. Nokomis Ave., Venice.  The event is part of the International Council on Local Environmental Initiatives’ (ICLEI) “National Conversation on Climate Action.”  The Greater Sarasota area is one of just ten communities in the nation selected to participate in the National Conversation.  Admission is free.

The event coincides with Earth Day to encourage citizens nationwide to conduct substantive, solutions-oriented dialogues about energy and climate action at the local level. In Sarasota County, community input from the event will be incorporated into a cross-jurisdictional Community Energy and Climate Action Plan to work toward energy savings and greenhouse gas emissions reductions.

Following a presentation, citizens will break into five groups to discuss a topic of their choice:  food/agriculture; transportation; waste; community-wide target; built environment. Sarasota County; City of Sarasota; City of North Port, City of Venice; SCOPE and New College of Florida will participate at the local conversation.  Other communities throughout the nation which will host similar events include:  Greenburgh, NY; Hennepin County, MN; Houston, TX; Jackson, WY; Lexington, KY; Los Angeles County, CA; Milwaukee, WI; Sumter, SC and Tucson, AZ.

“We look forward to supporting these 10 Spotlight Conversation communities on Earth Day,” said Michelle Wyman, executive director of ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability USA. “This will be an opportunity for the communities to advance their local climate protection goals and feed into a crucial national dialogue on the imperative of local climate action.”

ICLEI, an association consisting of 500 local governments advancing climate protection and sustainability, worked directly with the local Spotlight Conversation communities to build the event into an ongoing climate action plan. The 2009 National Conversation will build off the success of past events and the rapidly growing demand for clean energy solutions. For more information about the national event, visit www.climateconversation.org.

To learn more about the local event, call or email the following project contacts:

 

 

For more information, please contact:
Jan Thornburg, Public Information Officer (941) 954-2613
jan.thornburg@sarasotagov.com