Energy consumption ranks among the top economic and environmental challenges to our nation in the 21st century, and it’s time that we, the citizens of Leon County, address our own energy consumption. More than 400 people came together on March 28, 2008, to do just that at the Leon County Climate Action Summit. The Board of County Commissioners hosted the Summit, along with co-sponsors, the City of Tallahassee, the Tallahassee Democrat and the Environmental Defense Fund, to ensure a sustainable future for our community, our economy and our way of life.

The Summit brought together members from all parts of the community, including residents, businesses, scientists and engineers, to talk about a variety of environmental issues ranging from residential landscaping to land use planning. However, unlike most events of this kind, the Climate Action Summit was designed to look beyond political arguments about “Global Warming,” and instead looked at practical, kitchen table economics. Participants were educated about new, emerging technologies and cost-saving strategies to increase energy efficiency and reduce energy demand.

The Climate Action Summit offered a broad spectrum of information on for homeowners, business owners, planners, and policy-makers alike. Participants attended sessions on green landscaping, new urbanism, green financing, and opportunities in the carbon market. Participants also had the opportunity to get a “sneak preview” of the new high-tech energy exhibit at the Mary Brogan Museum of Arts and Science called “Your Energy Generation.”

If you were unable to attend the event, you can still see some of the wonderful presentations given during the Summit. Just click on the “Presentations” tab above.

Leon County Schools supported the Climate Action Summit by hosting a district-wide essay contest. The winners were Tishian Mahmud, a fifth grader at Hawks Rise Elementary School, and Kaitlin Duchene, seventh grader at Swift Creek Middle School.

The Board of County Commissioners would like to extend a special thanks to the Summit’s co-sponsors, the Tallahassee Democrat, the Environmental Defense Fund and the City of Tallahassee, as well as the numerous other supporters who contributed to the event.

For more than a century and a half, the rest of the state has looked to Leon County for leadership. In the 21st century, Leon County will stake out a leadership role in powering Florida to a brighter energy future. The Leon County Climate Action Summit is the just the first step as our community moves towards “growing green.”