Hoboken Mayor David Roberts signed the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement in March 2008. The document was unanimously supported by the City Council. The Climate Agreement dedicates the city administration to make every effort to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 2020. The Hoboken Quality of Life Coalition introduced the agreement to the city and was assisted in its efforts to gain acceptance by the support of Councilpersons Terry La Bruno, Beth Mason, Michael Russo and Dawn Zimmer.

Mayor David Roberts accepts a Certificate of Appreciation from the Sierra Club upon signing the U.S. Mayors’ Climate Protection Agreement. Left to right: front row Councilwoman Terry La Bruno, Mayor David Roberts and Quality of Life Coalition Coordinator Helen Manogue. Second row Councilman Michael Russo, Councilman Peter Cunningham, QLC members Joan Abel and JD Capuano.

The QLC was influential in getting the agreement adopted. Gaining enrollment in Climate Protection Agreements by counties and municipalities is the goal of a Sierra Club program called COOLcities. In that effort the Club contacts local groups such as the QLC and asks them to introduce the Agreement and work for and follow up on its passage. The QLC is performing that function in Hoboken. It met with council members in February and the council unanimously passed a resolution supporting the pledge on March 5, 2008. The group was helped in its efforts by the support of Councilpersons Terry La Bruno, Beth Mason, Michael Russo and Dawn Zimmer.

The QLC has created a special committee to work on the implementation of the Climate Protection Agreement. It is known as the Committee for a Green Hoboken. The Green Committee will work closely with the city administration in obtaining an energy audit of municipal buildings and operations from which a CO2 reduction plan will be devised. Simultaneously, the committee will be soliciting local residents to participate in the Change-A-Light Program (change light bulbs from incandescent to fluorescent) and the state’s Clean Power Choice effort (homeowners opt for a preferred energy source such as solar, wind, etc. via PSE&G)

Members of the general public are invited to become part of this global improvement effort. Contact us through this website for more information on how to get involved.