Mayor Dyer’s Climate & Energy Summit photo gallery
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ORLANDO (CityofOrlando.net) – Already a national leader in how municipalities are managing environmental challenges, the City of Orlando looked ahead on August 13 during Mayor Buddy Dyer’s Climate & Energy Summit.
More than 200 community, business, nonprofit and public sector leaders gathered at the Amway Center to share technologies and strategies in climate action and sustainable energy. Mayor Dyer joined with global and national experts to discuss best practices and solutions to support economic growth and a sustainable energy future for the City of Orlando, the Central Florida region and the State of Florida.
“We want to be the most sustainable community in the whole southeastern United States,” Mayor Dyer said. He shared several successes achieved through the Green Works Orlando plan, including reducing greenhouse gas emissions from municipal operations, as well as the launch of SunRail.
Senator Bill Nelson praised the steps that Orlando has taken to address climate change.
“We can celebrate that Orlando is doing its part. Little incremental progress is what is ultimately going to make a difference,” he said.
Mayor Dyer detailed future initiatives that will respond to climate concerns while creating a better quality of life and economic growth in Orlando. The City plans to increase its commitment to solar energy, explore waste solutions that produce energy and also decrease dependence on foreign oil, and increase the tree canopy to a 40-percent tree cover.
Speakers at the event included Peter Lehner of the Natural Resource Defense Council, Skip Laitner of the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy and Mike Boots, the acting director of the White House Council on Environmental Quality.
