In 1989 Robert Redford initiated and hosted Greenhouse Glasnost, an international summit on global warming, which was co-convened with the Soviet Academy of Sciences and held at Sundance. Greenhouse Glasnost brought together policymakers, scientists, environmentalists, industrialists, and artists to find ways to transform the knowledge on global warming into shrewd, popular action. Outcomes included a public letter to the US and Soviet presidents urging them to demonstrate leadership on the issue. It was an early effort, one of many before and since, that captured the world's attention and moved us closer to common solutions.

In more recent years, US mayors have increasingly taken measures to advance climate protection at the local level. Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson stands out as an example. He has made tremendous strides in Salt Lake City and can attest; mayors have the authority to adapt and prepare for climactic changes, to directly influence the energy consumption of communities, to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and to save money at the same time. Anderson has become an international spokesperson and expert on how local governments can play a leading role in effectively combating global warming.

Redford and Anderson join ICLEI and the Sundance Preserve as hosts of the Sundance Summit. ICLEI is a global organization working at the local level to accelerate climate protection. In 2005, through ICLEI’s Cities for Climate Protection Campaign, more than 160 U.S. cities collectively reported reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 23 million tons and saving in excess of $535 million. The Sundance Preserve is a non-profit convening organization dedicated to inspiring action for the benefit of civil society.

At the 2005 Sundance Summit ICLEI offered participating mayors the tools and support necessary to meet emissions reductions goals. Leading scientists (Jean Michel Cousteau, Dr. Heidi Cullen, and Harvard’s Dr. Paul Epstein), business executives, participating mayors, and politicians (New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson) provided case studies and expertise. Former US Vice President Al Gore gave a multimedia presentation focused on the scientific evidence and impacts of global warming, and he offered to bring his presentation to every city whose mayor made a commitment to action at the event.

Additionally, more than 75 percent of the mayors in attendance at the 2005 Sundance Summit committed to participating in ICLEI’s Cities for Climate Protection Campaign— a program that works directly with local governments to achieve quantifiable greenhouse gas reductions. Those actions include:

• Expanding public transit access and increasing its utilization
• Increasing use of renewable energy in electricity portfolios
• Implementing a municipal green purchasing program
• Working with school districts to develop a global warming curriculum
• Meeting with local media to raise the profile of global warming challenges and solutions
• Increasing the scope and effectiveness of communications on climate protection actions the cities can take
• Developing urban heat island mitigation strategies

In 2006, mayors at the Sundance Summit heard from San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom as well as former Senator Gary Hart of Colorado who outlined a climate leadership plan for the next US President. Mayors at the 2006 Summit were asked to reach out to at least five other mayors, asking them to visit www.coolmayors.org and take action on global warming. Additionally, some of the speakers encouraged the mayors to make the following commitments:

• Madeline Albright, Former US Secretary of State , asked the mayors to use relationships with sister cities to help spread the work you’ve done on climate protection and preparedness to other countries.
• Rosina Bierbaum, Dean, School of Natural Resources & Environment, Univ. of Michigan, encouraged them to establish a climate science advisory board within their communities.
• Susan Joy Hassol, Climate Science Communicator, Analyst & Author, reminded them to communicate through the media the scientific consensus on climate change and the urgency of action, at least three times in the year following the event.

In 2007, the mayors attending the Sundance Summit were treated to opening remarks by Florida Governor Charlie Crist, who touched on the connection between local and state governments in advancing climate solutions, and a keynote from Phil Angelides, President of the Apollo Alliance.

Ed Mazria of Architecture 2030 gave a rousing presentation on the impacts of coal on our climate protection efforts. Mazria also launched a new report at the Summit, “Nation Under Siege,” that paints a picture of what sea level rise will look like. King County, WA, Executive Ron Sims was on hand to discuss their climate adaptation work and officially release “Preparing for Climate Change: A Guidebook for Local, Regional and State Governments.” Mayors were also treated to a premiere of “Fighting Goliath,” a new film that chronicles the fight of Texas mayors against TXU’s coal-fired power plants in 2006.

The Sundance Summit mayors, along with ICLEI and Robert Redford, have committed to continuing to advance climate protection as a collaborative group. The goal is to drive more mayors and more cities to join the Sundance Summit to progressively take tangible local action to address the issue of global warming.