ICLEI Tips on Recruiting Cities and Counties

Getting your community to join ICLEI has a big impact on global warming, and it's a tangible action that motivated individuals or community groups can make happen. Here is some information from ICLEI's experience that may help you convince your city or county to join ICLEI. It’s all about relationships.

The Recruitment Process: Find a Champion

 
A municipality becomes an ICLEI member after the legislative body adopts a resolution and pays membership dues. But many communities that join ICLEI first have an internal champion: a staff member or elected official who pushes from within. The best starting point from outside the municipality is to find this person who will support ICLEI climate protection activity:

1.   Build on existing relationships—If you already work with someone from the city/county, try that person first. Or they may know who to recommend.

2.   Identify staff people who already work on related issues—For instance the recycling coordinator, energy manager, air quality/health staff, etc. Contact this person and tell them about ICLEI. If they are too busy or not interested, they may know someone else on staff to recommend.

3.   Speak to the environmental or energy champion on the elected body.

4.   Approach city, town or county commissions and boards—Many cities, towns and counties have citizen commissions that advise the elected officials. If an environmental, energy or conservation commission exists, the commission may recommend to Council or Board of Supervisors for your local government to pass a resolution to join ICLEI.

5.   Follow up—Once you talk to an interested person, send them information and follow-up. This person can be the key to making it happen, so help them out. Answer their questions or have ICLEI contact them. Get their sense of the political landscape and local priorities. Be supportive and persistent.

 
This is typically the key process for getting a local government to join ICLEI. Be patient as the local government will take time to consider joining the program. Some other avenues for promoting sustainability and climate protection:

• Seek support from multiple community groups and residents. Educate them about ICLEI. They can provide additional local government contacts, make phone calls, provide support at meetings, etc.

• Petition to have discussion of the benefits of ICLEI membership scheduled for an environment committee or other public meeting.

• Make phone calls supporting ICLEI membership after you present the information to staff or other elected officials. Make sure that the issue remains in the mind of key individuals.

The Recruitment Message

Our experience is that most local officials want to do something about global warming, but suspect there is little they can do, are wary of outsiders and afraid that it may be costly. Strategies for working with your local government:

1.  Emphasize co-benefits

Local governments have a lot to worry about and global warming isn't high on the list. So emphasize the multiple benefits of addressing global warming:

• Save money. Saving energy saves money. Just one example: LED traffic signals use 80% less energy than standard bulbs, last 12 times longer, save enough money to pay for installation in 18 months, and continue saving money while cutting pollution.

• Improve air quality. Nearly everything the city does to reduce greenhouse gas emissions will improve air quality.

• Reduce traffic. Creating options like carpooling, bike paths, pedestrian-friendly development, transit incentives, etc. all alleviate traffic.

• Livable communities. Alternatives to driving, cleaner air, less pollution.

2.  Mention current participants

The wide list of current participants is our biggest endorsement. Mention ICLEI members in your region or similar to your city, town or county. ICLEI can connect staff and elected official contacts from other local governments to reinforce your message.

3.  Address other concerns

• The level of staff commitment is your community's choice. Be aware that staff requirements are typically the primary concern of every community. We tell officials that ICLEI membership does require work because it's not just an award or a feel-good program. Still, most communities get far more from ICLEI than they put in. The time required depends on the size and nature of your government. Typically, work is assigned to a specific staff person and will not usually require eliminating existing tasks. The key here is that the staff person assigned to ICLEI wants to do the work. Also, the best way to gauge the work level is to talk to colleagues already ICLEI members (we can arrange contacts).

• ICLEI membership is not imposed from outside. This is ultimately a local program. ICLEI will offer a resource network, training, and best practices publications. But your community will write its own plan to reduce emissions and choose policies appropriate for you. We do not involve ourselves in local political issues.

• There are no penalties for sticking with the timeline. At worst, we remove inactive jurisdictions from our participation and contact lists. ICLEI will never publicly criticize a local government for changing priorities.

Good luck! Feel free to contact the ICLEI USA Membership Team if you need help!