FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 12, 2017
Contact: Rachael Schaffner
Sustainability Project Coordinator
Sustainability Department
479.575.8268
Rschaffner@fayetteville-ar.gov
Fayetteville Joins Cities across the U.S. Posting Archived EPA Website
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The City of Fayetteville has created a new webpage to help citizens learn about climate change. The City website includes portions of the currently archived Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Climate Change website, as well as research and data from other organizations. The new webpage includes basic information about what climate change is, why it is occurring, and what specific effects Arkansas may face due to a shifting global climate.
On April 29, the EPA removed climate change related materials from the federal government’s website. On May 7, City of Chicago’s Mayor Rahm Emanuel announced that the City of Chicago would be hosting the EPA’s archived materials on its own servers in order to ensure that the public had access to factual information on climate change and its effects. Mayor Emanuel called on other cities across the United States to join Chicago in its efforts by hosting climate change research on their own websites.
The City of Fayetteville has joined Chicago and 11 other cities across the United States that are hosting information from the EPA website.
“I am proud of the opportunity to work with Mayor Emanuel on ensuring this important information compiled by scientists and federal employees over decades is posted on the City of Fayetteville’s website,” said Fayetteville Mayor Lioneld Jordan. “Now more than ever, we must work to share information about the realities of climate change and the importance of a proactive response.”
The mayors and cities posting information include:
Mayor Lioneld Jordan of Fayetteville, Arkansas
Mayor Kasim Reed of Atlanta, Georgia
Mayor Marty Walsh of Boston, Massachusetts
Mayor Rahm Emanuel of Chicago, Illinois
Mayor Steve Hagerty of Evanston, Illinois
Mayor Sylvester Turner of Houston, Texas
Mayor Tom Barrett of Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Mayor Mitch Landrieu of New Orleans, Louisiana
Mayor Jim Kenney of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Mayor Ted Wheeler of Portland, Oregon
Mayor Ed Lee of San Francisco, California
Mayor Ed Murray of Seattle, Washington
Mayor Lyda Krewson of St. Louis, Missouri
This project builds on ongoing efforts by the City of Fayetteville to fight climate change while growing a sustainable, resilient community.
Last week, Mayor Lioneld Jordan Mayor joined 289 U.S. Mayors from across the United States in signing a statement in response to President Trump’s withdrawal from the Paris Climate Agreement. The statement confirmed the Mayor’s commitment to adopt, honor, and uphold the Paris Climate Agreement goals and to continue America’s leadership on climate action. The Paris Climate Agreement is a United Nations treaty, signed by 195 countries, addressing greenhouse gas emissions mitigation, adaptation, and finance. The United States is the first and only county to withdraw from the agreement.
In a separate letter to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), Mayor Jordan – with leaders of other cities, states, universities, and businesses – expressed a partnership to join forces to continue supporting climate action in line with the Paris Climate Agreement. The letter, signed by leaders who represent a sizeable portion of the U.S. economy, acknowledges that the signatories will – despite changing federal priorities – continue to pursue ambitious climate goals, working together to take forceful action to ensure that the U.S. remains a global leader in reducing emissions.
In addition to the Mayor’s recent actions, Fayetteville’s City Council voted on Feb. 7, 2017 to support the development of a citywide Energy Action Plan that focuses on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, encouraging greater deployment of renewable energy, and increasing energy efficiency with fuel efficient vehicles. City staff has begun working with stakeholders to develop this plan, with the hope of bringing a draft Energy Action Plan back to City Council for adoption in the fall 2017. More information can be found on the City’s website at: www.fayetteville-ar.gov/EnergyActionPlan
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