The purpose of this web page is to expand upon and explain what appears in the Candidate's Cover Letter and the Survey that were sent on August 14, 2007 to candidates seeking to serve on the City Countil and as Mayor.   The content of this document is drawn directly from those two documents.

Resources offered in test and via hyperlinks are drawn from published articles and studies from scientific, governmental and achidemic sources.

American cities are recognizing that historically unprecedented challenges lie ahead and they are taking action to face them.   One of those crucial challenges is: Will ours be a sustainable city?
Background information on this paragraph

A “sustainable city” is one that encourages public and private values, behaviors, and actions that can be maintained in the face of the environmental, social, and economic changes we are told to expect and are already seeing.   A prudent approach to risk management requires us to evaluate the situation, consider our options and plan conservatively to face and adapt to what is coming.
Background information on this paragraph

The changes we are told to anticipate include:

More extreme weather events More property damage | Damaged residents hurt families | Human and animal fatalities rise | Flooding-related mold problems | Increased crop damage | More demand for first responders | Insuance loses threaten insurance availability | Water & power outages | Businesses hurt or closed | "Researcher Richard Alley suggests that not only does the climate system have dials that slowly alter climate patterns, there are also switches that can suddenly shift climate in dramatic ways." Abrupt Climate Change   National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration  ' July 29, 2003 "The gradual warming of the earth's atmosphere may mean that we are entering a period of increased frequency and severity of climate-related disasters, such as drought, flooding, and catastrophic storms." Climate Change, Climate Variability, and Natural Disasters   USAID   Feb.26, 2007 More frequent droughts and floods, Low water emergencies | Reduced crop yields | Rise in food costs | Rise in fatalities | Property damage | Infrastructue damage | Increased insect breeding grounds | Water bodies decline | "The big problem is that most countries aren't ready to deal adequately with the severe natural disasters that we get now, a situation that will become much worse as storms and droughts become more pervasive," Climate change boosting flood and drought: experts   World Water Council   March 3 2003 "Lloyd's of London, the world's oldest insurer, offered a gloomy forecast of floods, droughts and disastrous storms over the next 50 years." Floods and drought: Lloyd's assesses climate change   Reuters   May 7, 2007 More high heat and poor air quality days, Alterted spending patterns | Higher energy bills | Possible water use impacts | Possible energy impacts | Negative health consequences | Tempers easily strained | Certain businesses suffer | Negative health consequesces | "More frequent or severe heat waves could boost deaths and illnesses among the elderly, infants, and people with cardiovascular and respiratory disorders." Climate Change and Public Health   (PDF)   U.S. Environmental Protection Agency "Heatwaves currently kill 1100 people over 65 in Australia each year, the report says, and if no action is taken by the end of the century, there could between 8000 and 15,000 deaths a year by 2100." No stopping deaths from climate change   Australian Medical Association and Australian Conservation Foundation   Sept.22, 2005 "Cities that currently experience heat waves are expected to be further challenged by an increased number, intensity and duration of heat waves during the course of the century, with potential for adverse health impacts. The growing number of the elderly population is most at risk." Fourth Intergovernmental Assessment Report   (PDF)   International Panel on Climate Change   April 7,2007 More need for public health intervention Elderly more vulnerable | Increasing number of elderly | Growing health care provider shortage | Rising costs of the uninsured | Tropical diseaes advance norhtward | "Climate change may also contribute to social disruption, economic decline, and displacement of populations in certain regions due to effects on agricultural production, already-scarce water resources and extreme weather events." Health Impacts of Climate Change   (PDF)   US EPA   Oct 19, 2006 "Extremely wet weather may bring its own share of ills. Floods are frequently followed by disease clusters: downpours can drive rodents from burrows, deposit mosquito-breeding sites, foster fungus growth in houses, and flush pathogens, nutrients, and chemicals into waterways." Climate change and human health  New England Journal of Medicine   Oct 6, 2005 "More frequent heat Waves or severe heat waves could boost deaths and illnesses among the elderly, infants, and people with "cardiovascular and respiratory disorders." Climate Change and Public Health   (PDF)   U.S. Environmental Protection Agency "Heatwaves currently kill 1100 people over 65 in Australia each year, the report says, and if no action is taken by the end of the century, there could between 8000 and 15,000 deaths a year by 2100." No Stopping Deaths from Climate Change   Australian Medical Association   Sept.22, 2005 An aging population Significant numbers of trained workers retiring | Reduced disposal incume | Certain types of businesses suffer | Rising rates of poverty | More households qualify for blind & elderly property tax exemption | Reduced tax revenue | Growing population who don't drive | Increased need for public transit | Increseing use of public health services | Growing supply of empty-nester homes for sale | Out-migration from car-dependent suburbs | Grwoing need for walkable communities | "There is a major reason for the (Registered Nurses) shortage. Ever since the mid-'80s, young people have been choosing more lucrative careers. At the same time, the nurses we do have are getting older; the average age is now 45. Just as the baby boomers are starting to need more care, the pipeline is running dry, and it's going to get much, much worse." Nursing Shortage In Critical Stage Poaching from Overseas"   CBS 60 Minutes   Jan. 17, 2003 The aging US population will lead to "...increasing income disparity between whites and minority groups; "economic bifurcation"—the continued disparity of vulnerable populations in relation to adequate income resources; and a climbing ethnic diversity which could escalate further by immigration pattern changes. And finally, there is the decline in community stability and shared values, an issue that seriously affects societal ebb and flow." The Aging of the Boomers   Indiana University   Feb. 18, 2000 "The aging of America promises to usher in one of the most fundamental social transformations that our nation has ever experienced. Over the next few decades, it will restructure the economy, reshape the family, and redefine our cultural self-image. Perhaps most fatefully, it will push a growing share of the nation's resources towards an ever larger elderly population whose entitlement to public benefits has come to rest on age alone." Financial Planning   Feb. 2006 "These factors conclusively demonstrate an extremely strong need for travel alternatives and options other than driving, both for those persons who often drive and those who do not. Public transit providers will be challenged to find cost-effective ways to provide services to widely dispersed residences and activity centers." Travel Implications of Trends and Changes in the Older Population   (PDF)   Transportation Research Board   May 12, 2002 Reduced crop yields Higher food costs | Some farm incomes reduced | Out-migration from rural communities | Marginal-income household budgets threatened | Residential gardens and landscaping threatened | Farm worker jobs threatened | Instituional food costs rise | "...the Central and Southern Corn Belt, corn could suffer as higher temperatures make the climate less hospitable to corn, despite an expected increase in annual precipitation." Climate change Winners and Losers   Farm Industry News   Dec. 1, 2006 "In the southern portions of Indiana and Illinois, corn yields are likely to decline, with 10-20% decreases projected in some locations." Midwest Overview: The Potential Consequences of Climate Variability and Change     US Golbal Climate Research Program   October 2003 Rising fuel costs Household budgets impacted | Muncipal Budgets impacted | Food cost rise due to transportation costs | Potential spot food shortages | Cost of all transported goods rise | Marginal income households threatened | Certain businesses threatened | Jobs threatened | Car-dependant households most impacted | "Humanity's way of life is on a collision course with geology—with the stark fact that the Earth holds a finite supply of oil. The flood of crude from fields around the world will ultimately top out, then dwindle." The End of Cheap Oil   National Geogrpahic.com   June 2004 "Once the realization soaks into the American consciousness that high-cost gas is here to stay, Gabriel predicts, those high commute prices will pull more homeowners -- even young families -- to live in central cities and create a push for more public transportation." Could Rising Gas Prices Kill the Suburbs?   Lusk Center: University of Southern California   2005 "The next oil crunch will not be so temporary. Our analysis of the discovery and production of oil fields around the world suggests that within the next decade, the supply of conventional oil will be unable to keep up with demand." The End of Cheap Oil   Scientific American   March 1998 "If the falling supply loses out to rising demand before new energy sources are ready, government officials say, a world that runs on oil could face consequences ranging from recessions to famine and even war." Worries Swelling Over Oil Shortage   Energy Bulletin  l March 20, 2005 "The world faces an oil `supply crunch'' after 2010 because demand will outpace the growth in production from non-OPEC countries, according to the International Energy Agency" World Faces Oil Supply Crunch After 2010, IEA   Bloomberg   Aug. 5 2007 "Oil output has stalled, and it's not clear the capacity exists to raise production" From Peak Oil to Dark Age?   Business Week   June 25, 2007 Shifting employment patterns Trained workers retiring | Trained worker shortages | Consumers shifting away from low-mileage vehicle | Indiana manufactures low-mileage vehicles | Fast growing industries like bio-tech seek highly educated workers | Indiana has a lower percentage of highly educated workers | Manufacturing jobs leaving the U.S. | Service jobs pay lower wages | "Indiana is expected to have more residents age 65 and older by the year 2035 than those under age 15." Aging population could affect workforce   Indiana University   2005 "Though Indiana employers recognize that their workforce is getting older, few are taking concrete steps to manage the transition as the baby boom generation begins to reach retirement age". Indiana: Employers Unprepared for Aging Workforce Aging Workforce News   July 14, 2007 "We're seeing a broad, long-term -- but gradual -- movement to smaller vehicles" Demand for Smaller Vehicles Grows as Gas Prices Rise Long-term movement to smaller cars, trucks becomes evident   J.D. Power and Associates   May 17, 2007 "Fifty years ago, a third of U.S. employees worked in factories, making everything from clothing to lipstick to cars. Today, a little more than one-tenth of the nation's 131 million workers are employed by manufacturing firms. Four-fifths are in services." U.S. Manufacturing Jobs Fading Away Fast   USA Today   Dec. 12, 2002 "There are 87 Indiana counties that have persistently lagged behind the nation in the number of residents with college degrees and that seem to be trapped in a state of education deprivation," Expert: Jobs, Higher Education Should Top State's 'To Do' List   Purdue University News   Feb. 22, 2005

Viewed alone or together, these changes represent threats to public safety.

A coalition including the League of Women Voters of Indianapolis has crafted a candidate survey in the hope that you will educate us, the voters of Marion County, on your position for facing such challenges.   The list of civic, religious, and environmental organizations endorsing this survey currently includes:

Campaign for Sustainable Economics Central Indiana Regional Council – Hoosier Environmental Council Citizens Action Coalition of Indiana Community Faith and Labor Coalition Earth Charter Indiana

Ecology House of Indianapolis Holy Cross Catholic Parish Indianapolis Climate Action Network League of Women Voters of Indianapolis National Federation of the Blind of Indianapolis Sojourners Class, North United Methodist Church

The questions in this survey are taken from or based upon The U.S. Conference of Mayors Climate Protection Agreement, which Mayor Peterson signed this year. Over 600 U.S. mayors from cities across America are signatories to this agreement.   Signing it marks a milestone for our city and could set Indianapolis on a course toward a sustainable future.

Survey Questions

1.   Inventory global warming emissions in city operations and in the community, set reduction targets, and create an action plan.

A Definition of Greenhouse Gas Inventory   Wikipedia Online Encyclopedia

Municipal Greenhouse Gas Inventory Reports
City of Seattle   City of Oakland CA   Somerville Massachusetts   Ft. Collins Colorado  

How Harvard Inventoried its Greenhouse Gases Harvard University   2001

Guidelines for College-Level Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventories   Lewis & Clark College   Aug. 7, 2002

The U.S. Greenhouse Gas Inventory Report   US EPA   April 2007

2.   Adopt and enforce land-use policies that reduce sprawl, preserve open space, and create compact, walkable urban communities.

"Through smart growth approaches that enhance neighborhoods and involve local residents in development decisions, these communities are creating vibrant places to live, work, and play.   The high quality of life in these communities makes them economically competitive, creates business opportunities, and improves the local tax base."
About Smart Growth   US EPA   Jan 17, 2007

“Sample the attitudes of suburbanites today and you’ll find a growing number who think their lifestyle is becoming more difficult and less appealing. [They are] exasperated by the amount of time spent trapped in their cars.”
Creating Walkable Communities: A Guide for Local Governments   Mid-America Regional Council Dec   1998

3.   Maintain healthy urban forests; promote tree planting to increase shading and to absorb CO2.

"Property values increase 5-15% when compared to properties without trees; Shoppers are willing to pay up to 11 percent more for products purchased in shops along tree-lined streets than they would pay for the same item in a barren setting; trees; Strategically placed trees can cut summer air conditioning costs for businesses by as much as 50 percent or more; trees; trees; Rental rates of commercial office properties were approximately 7% higher on sites having quality landscape, trees; including trees."
The Benefits of Urban Trees   (PDF)   Keep Indianapolis Beautiful Inc.

"Over a 50-year lifetime, a tree provides $62,000 worth of air pollution control. It can remove pollutants such as nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, ozone, and particulate matter."
Planning: Bicycle and pedestrian friendly Land-Use Codes   International Bicycle Fund

Commute Trip Reduction Programs
City of Seattle   |   King County WA  |   Victoria Transport Policy Institute  

5.   Increase the use of clean, alternative energy by purchasing “green power,” advocating for the development of renewable energy resources, and recovering energy from city operations.

"The Green Power Option is available to both residential and commercial/industrial IPL customers; The current Green Power premium is only $0.001913 per kilowatt-hour"
How to Purchase Power Made from Renewable Energy Sources Indianapolis Power & Light Co.

At the First International Solar Cities Congress held in 2004 19 cities from around the world presented their Policies and Programs for Incorporating Renewable Energy and other clean energy forms into urban development.

The use of clean renewable sources of energy Can reduce local air pollution, reduce generation of greenhouse gases and/or stimulate the local economy.

6.   Make energy efficiency a priority, practice and promote sustainable building codes and practices using the U.S. Green Building Council's program (or equivalent), purchase “Energy-Star” (or equivalent) items, retrofit city facilities with energy efficient lighting, and urge employees to conserve energy and save money.

"Using more efficient lighting can lower utility bills and reduce associated environmental impacts."
The Benefits of Energy Efficient Lighting   Sylvania Corp.

"Energy efficiency is the lowest cost energy resource. For example, Xcel Energy estimates its cost of conserving energy at about 1.1 cents per kilowatt-hour, whereas the cost of a new coal plant is 6.5 cents per kilowatt-hour or more. While the cost to supply energy continues to increase, the cost of energy efficiency continues to decrease."
The Benefits of Energy Efficiency   Clean Energy Minnesota

"Breakthroughs in building science, technology and operations are available to designers, builders and owners who want to build green and maximize both economic and environmental performance"
Why Build Green?   U.S. Green Building Council

Tips for Businesses on Improving Energy Efficiency   Better Business Bureau

" The Municipal Energy Fund was established in 1998 to be a self-sustaining source of funds for investment in energy-efficient retrofits at city facilities, so the City would be able to continually reduce its operating costs over time."
City of Ann Arbor Michigan

7.   Increase the average fuel efficiency of municipal fleet vehicles, reduce the number of vehicles, launch an employee education program including anti-idling messages, and convert diesel vehicles to bio-diesel.

"With the recent significant increase in fuel prices, the City and many of our residents have been concerned about ways to reduce fuel consumption and get our fuel budgets back into line. "
Fuel Conservation Proclamation   City of Provo Utah   Oct. 3, 2006

8.   Increase recycling rates in city operations and in the community.

Recycling is a business that creates jobs.   Those jobs are paid for by the profits generated by selling the recycled items.   The greater the quanity of processed recycled materials you sell, the more jobs you can create.   Cities with policies that encourage diverting recylceables materials from the waste stream, creats a positive climate for attracting and expanding recycling businesses and waste-based manufacturers.

"Recycling employs low-, medium-, and highly-skilled workers in a variety of jobs—from materials handling and processing to high-quality product manufacturing. The drive for efficient handling and use of recycled materials spurs innovation, a key to long-term economic growth."
Economic Benefits of Recycling  U.S. EPA   2006

In Indiana 173 communities, (28.8% of all Indiana communities) use a "Pay-as -You-Throw" waste management system.   Nationwide, 26.3% of all communities use this method.
U.S. PAYT Communities and Share of Commidities Covered, by State  U.S. EPA   Feb 21, 2007

The Indiana PAYT Technical Assistance Project resulted in a tool-kit for communities to use in establishing Pay-As-You-Throw Programs
Indiana Pay-As-You-Throw Program   Indiana Department of Environmental Manhagement

9.   Establish a volunteer “sustainability advisory council” to assist in inventorying global warming emissions, setting reduction targets, and creating an action plan.
"...policies to combat global warming can command majority public support in the US, as long as they don't hit people's pockets too hard."
Stanford Opinoin Poll   What do people think?   June 22, 2007

"It's becoming a legacy issue for older Americans: what type of planet are we leaving our children?"
Global Meltdown   July - Aug 2007 AARP Magazine

10.   Rapid global climate change poses a real threat to our community; actions to address it must begin now.

"The frequency and intensity of some extreme weather of critical importance to ecological systems (droughts, floods, frosts, cloudiness, the frequency of hot or cold spells, and the intensity of associated fire and pest outbreaks) could increase."
Climate Change and Indiana   (PDF)   U.S Environmental Protection Agency

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Home page

Background Information on Cities Taking Action

Mitigating Climate Change in US Cities:   opportunities and obstacles<   Colorado State University   2001

Cities Take Lead On Environment As Debate Drags At Federal LevelJune 9, 2007

Cities Offer Own Response to Climate ChangeWorld Watch Institute May 2, 2007

Climate Change Impacts & Risk Manhagement:   A Guide for Business and Government   2006   Australian Greenhouse Office

The End of Cheap Oil Dec. 19, 2005   Ontario Planning Journal
"We need to understand that the next 25 years for planning will be very different from the last."

A Prudent Approach to Risk Management

"Climate change is fundamentally altering the planet; the risks of inaction are high; and time is running out." Simple Verdict After a Complex Inquiry:   Time is running out   The Guardian newspaper (U.K) nnbsp; Nov. 2, 2006

"Climate change can have adverse impacts on insurance affordability and availability, potentially slowing the growth of the industry and shifting more of the burden to governments and individuals."
Insurance in a Climate of change   Lawrence Berkely National Baloratory   June 6, 2007

"The literature suggests that a prudent risk management strategy requires a careful consideration of the consequences (both environmental and economic), their likelihood and society's attitude toward risk.""
"Should decision-making concentrate on the long term or near term?"   GreenFacts   2007

"The insurance industry must now seize the opportunity to make a difference, not just to the future of our own industry, but to the future of society."
Climate Change: Adapt or Bust   Lloyds Report on Climate Change  (PDF)   May 7, 2007

Background Information on Sustainable Cities

The CUNY Institute for Sustainable Cities

Sustainable Cities Programme of Austrailia

Scientific Reports Describing the Changes we are Told to Expect

US National Assessment of the Potential Consequences of Climate Variability and Change   US Global Climate Change Research Program   2007

Clear Summaries of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Report   2007 Report   2001 Report
GreenFacts

"For the next several decades there is a clear consensus on projected warming rates from human influences among different models and different emission scenarios."
An Information Statement of the American Meteorological Society (Feb. 1, 2007)

Background Information on Threats to Pubic Safety

"Climate change is a security issue because if we don't deal with it, people will die and states will fail,"
Climate change creates security challenge 'more complex than Cold War'   Janes's   Jan 30, 2007