ICLEI-Local Governments For Sustainability

Martin Chavez. Martin J. Chavez, three-term former mayor of Albuquerque, is Executive Director of ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability USA. Chavez is based in ICLEI USA's Washington D.C. Executive Office. Chavez leads the growing national movement of U.S. cities, towns, and counties that are taking action to combat climate change, save energy, create green jobs, and make their communities better places to live.… See full bio.

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Story: ICLEI pushes to make U.S. homes more energy-efficient, read more about what they did? In September, ICLEI local government members played a critical role in what has been called America’s most significant energy vote of 2008. ICLEI partnered with the Energy Efficient Codes Coalition to support the 30% Solution—a proposal to update the International Energy Conservation Code that, had it been adopted in its entirety, would have made the nearly one million new homes built in the United States each year 30% more energy efficient than those built to the existing energy standard. ICLEI worked to educate its members on the importance of the 30% Solution and provided travel scholarships to 28 local government officials to represent their jurisdiction in Minneapolis for the vote. Despite falling short of the ultimate goals outlined in the 30% Solution, the International Code Council did approve an approximate 15% increase in energy efficiency building code standards for new homes, townhouses, and some apartment buildings beginning in 2009. This outcome is a tremendous success, and is clear indication that cites, towns, and counties across the United States consider building energy codes a key ingredient in their recipe for climate protection success. (Read more from their annual report at: http://www.icleiusa.org/library/documents/ICLEI-annual-report-08.pdf)

Evidence of Impact Summary:

Since its inception in 1990, ICLEI has grown to include over 1,100 cities in the world, more than 600 of which are in the US. ICLEI helped local governments reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by 23 million tons in 2005 alone. This translates to about $600 million in annual cumulative savings, largely on energy expenditures.

Organization Strengths Summary:

Climate Change experts believe that ICLEI’s strategy of focusing on the local level has been particularly effective. They have been able to form relationships with members of the local government and local community and provide them with tools that have real value at that level.
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Areas for Improvement Summary:

At the same time, some experts believe that in order to increase their visibility, reach, and impact, ICLEI should consider different approaches (such as grassroots involvement, work with youth, advocacy role).
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Martin J. Chavez, three-term former mayor of Albuquerque, is Executive Director of ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability USA. Chavez is based in ICLEI USA's Washington D.C. Executive Office. Chavez leads the growing national movement of U.S. cities, towns, and counties that are taking action to combat climate change, save energy, create green jobs, and make their communities better places to live. He directs ICLEI’s ongoing efforts to empower these local governments with the tools, resources, and expertise necessary to achieve their goals. Chavez served three terms as mayor of his native city, Albuquerque, NM (pop. 527,000). He was elected to his first term in 1993, and re-elected in 2001 and 2005, leaving office in 2009. He assumed the Executive Director position at ICLEI on March 1, 2010. In Albuquerque, Chavez was hailed as one of the nation’s “greenest” mayors, and he brings to ICLEI a deep understanding of and commitment to local environmental, sustainability, and energy issues. Chavez previously served as a member of the ICLEI USA Board of Directors and of the worldwide ICLEI Executive Committee. He also served as a Trustee of the United States Conference of Mayors (USCM), chaired the Urban Water Council, and was co-chair of USCM’s Climate Change Task Force.

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