PARTNERS: Portland, ME

Portland, Maine joined the Cities for Climate Protection Program administered by the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI) in 2000. The city completed a greenhouse gas inventory in 2001.

Portland participated in the Cross Border Exchange to Fredericton, Canada organized through CA-CP. The trip was fully funded by the Oak Foundation.
 

• In June 2005, the city of Portland, following participation in CA-CP’s cross-border exchange, joined a state-wide initiative called the Governor’s Carbon Challenge. This state program seeks voluntary commitments to lowering carbon pollution.
  
• Clean Air-Cool Planet is helping Portland develop several projects, including energy efficient product procurement and anti-idling policy for public vehicles. We helped the city launch its new Global Warming Round Table, a city-wide group of stakeholders, set up to develop an action plan for lowering carbon emissions. We intend to expand the Portland Roundtable into a model program for other communities.
  
• Early in 2006, the Mayor of Portland formed a permanent Sustainability Task Force committee in order to address sustainability issues in Portland.
  
• In June 2006, Portland participated in a second Cross Border Exchange trip to Toronto, Canada. This trip coincided with the international Smog Summit that took place in Canada on June 8th, 2006.
  
• In the Fall of 2006, Clean Air Cool Planet has employed an intern for the City of Portland in order to update the Greenhouse Gas Inventory and help in the formation of an Action Plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The John Merck Foundation has provided the funding in order for Clean Air Cool Planet to continue working with the city of Portland.