There is an old adage that says, "any really big job is just a lot of little jobs rolled into one”. That is how the folks in Seattle view the issue of Global Warming- a big planetary problem that is the result a lot of smaller problems in the cities of the world. It all started in 2004 after a particularly warm winter when very little snow fell on the Cascade Mountains outside Seattle. The city depends on the melting snowpack for drinking water and to generate hydroelectric power. Suddenly, global climate change was a local issue and the folks who lived in the city decided to confront the challenge head on. What they soon discovered was that tackling energy conservation, sustainable development and environmental protection wasn't about sacrifice or doing without. It turned out that every step taken to address global warming on the local level was also an action that improved the quality of city life. That single revelation launched a national movement of mayors all across the country that could truly impact the planet.
