Arlington Mayor Dr. Robert Cluck

July 12, 2006
Texas Cities Can Fight Global Warming

With heat, drought, air pollution and hurricanes on their minds, it's no wonder Texans are worried about the future.  Increased use of fossil fuels is leading to a changed climate, but a group of Lone Star cities are rising to the challenge, focused on reducing global warming emissions and pointing the way out of our dilemma.

Everyone has seen how pollution from the energy we use affects air quality in cities throughout the state, leading to more smog and more occasions when it's unsafe for children to play outside. By early June, the Dallas/Fort Worth area had already experienced three code red days. When that happens, the ozone count is so high it will damage your lungs, triggering asthma attacks and other health problems. Typically, such days don't happen until much later in the summer.

But at the same time, burning fossil fuels also produces carbon dioxide, which traps the sun's heat and will, in the long run, change our climate. While no single weather event can be blamed on global warming, the handwriting on the wall is becoming increasingly clear: After years and years of this gas building up in the atmosphere, we're entering a time of payback. 

Unfortunately, we've received a taste of what we could be facing. Despite occasional wet weather, drought is taking a toll on agriculture, our natural areas and city water systems. But a still warmer climate would make things even worse, with not only greater stress on water supplies but increased deaths from heat and pollution.  Stronger hurricanes would hit our coastal cities harder.

We must take concrete steps now, to avoid more serious consequences. Unfortunately, a common reaction is to throw up one's hands and say there's nothing we can do.

Not true.

Under the auspices of ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability, some Texas cities have begun to take action.

Austin has instituted a green building program, promoted the use of alternative fuels in government vehicles and offers financial incentives for community weatherization measures such as attic insulation, solar screens, air infiltration and duct sealing. Just these three programs will keep us from putting over 830,000 tons of carbon dioxide into the air each year.

Arlington, meanwhile, by applying sensible measures over the last four years, has decreased city-wide energy use by 26 percent, through employing more fuel-efficient cars, switching to LED traffic lights and encouraging greater energy efficiency in buildings.  Even little things can add up to big benefits, and yield a financial benefit, too.

On June 30, together with the University of Arlington's School of Urban and Public Affairs and ICLEI, the "Texas Cities for Climate Protection Meeting" was held on the campus of the University of Texas at Arlington. The purpose of the gathering was to inform Texas mayors of the impacts of a changing climate to air quality and public health, and to discuss solutions and actions that will make a difference in the health and well-being of Texans.

The gathering helped the mayors from Texas cities see first-hand that we can make a difference, we're not helpless, even facing something as large as global warming. It gave us a chance to discuss our common challenges and their potential solutions. Many of our choices offer no regrets -- saving energy and money for city budgets, and improving the air quality for those threatened with lung disorders.  The more city officials and citizens become involved, the better off we will be.

Skeptics will say that we could be wrong about global warming and that we will waste resources and time, trying to correct it.  But that's actually the best possible outcome, because the worst possible outcome -- one that science is pointing to more strongly every day -- is that global warming is indeed occurring, and if we stick our heads in the sand we will pass a point at which we cannot correct it. Then it will be left to our children and grandchildren to fix a far greater problem.  Indeed, that would be a bad legacy to leave to those we love.

Robert N. Cluck, M.D.
Mayor of Arlington