“Climate Change is one of the most important challenge facing the world today,” says Miami Mayor Manny Diaz, “yet there is so much each and every one of us can do. The Climate Group’s Together campaign is an opportunity for all of us to effect real change in our lives and our world.”

About Manuel A. Diaz, Mayor of Miami

The City of Miami is the epicenter of the Americas and one of the United States’ most important metropolitan areas. Situated on the far southeastern tip of the country, Miami is also on the front lines of climate change and its potentially catastrophic effects.

Miami Mayor Manuel A. Diaz is an advocate on the issue of climate change. In November 2007, as Vice President of the US Conference of Mayors, he joined 100 mayors from the nation’s biggest cities at the US Conference of Mayors Climate Protection Summit held in Seattle – the largest-ever gathering of US mayors to address climate issues. Mayor Diaz continues to drive action at the local level while advocating for change at the state and federal levels.

In April of 2007, Mayor Diaz signed the Miami Climate Protection Agreement, a resolution that outlines the Mayor’s goal to meet or exeed Kyoto Protocol targets in the City of Miami. Other programs spearheaded by Mayor Diaz to support a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions include the Green Fleet Program, directing the City Manager to assure that the city is purchasing, leasing, or obtaining the most energy-efficient vehicles and vessels possible, the City’s first Green Procurement Program, which has led to the purchase and use of Forest Stewardship Certified papers, sustainably harvested biofuels, and post-consumer recycled products, and a comprehensive Water Conservation Program, among others. And, in April 2008, Miami became the first major US city to use solar panels installed at City Hall to power the building.

Mayor Diaz also created the Miami Office of Sustainable Initiatives (MSI) to coordinate the many environmental programs now underway and to help facilitate public private partnerships to increase community outreach and available resources. MSI also helps coordinate the Mayor’s Green Commission, a group of city residents, activists, and experts who helped draft the city’s first-ever Tree Master Plan, which creates minimum standards to stabilize and then increase the city’s tree canopy cover by at least 30 percent by 2020.

Mayor Diaz is also asking others in government to follow his lead through a resolution urging the US president and US Congress to support increased investment in weatherization, a resolution urging the president and US Congress to support local energy-efficiency programs, energy conservation, renewable energy and green building programs, and a resolution urging the Governor of the State of Florida and members of the Florida State Legislature to support Miami’s efforts to establish environmental policies and procedures.

As incoming President of the US Conference of Mayors, Mayor Diaz will take leadership of the largest nonpartisan group of local leaders in June 2008, and will promote his vision for sustainable urban growth and governance.

You can learn more about Miami’s sustainability initiatives by visiting: www.miamigov.com/cms/mayor/4060.asp

For more details of the Miami Office of Sustainable Initiatives visit www.miamigov.com/msi/pages/