By SARAH STRANDBERG, Courier Correspondent

DECORAH --- The city this week became the fourth in Iowa to endorse a resolution on reducing carbon emissions and other greenhouse gases.

Members of the Decorah City Council on Monday authorized Mayor Don Arendt to sign the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement. The initiative, which has its roots in Seattle, calls on cities, communities and the federal government to take action to reduce pollution some believe contributes to global warming.

Council member Karen Tjossem serves as chair of the council's economic and community betterment committee, which studied the issue. She noted Decorah has already undertaken several measures to reduce its "carbon footprint." And as far as the agreement's recommended steps for reducing global warming pollution are concerned, Tjossem said the city is already on its way.

But meeting at least one goal outlined in the initiative appears problematic.

The U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement urges those who sign on to reduce global warming pollution to 7 percent below 1990 levels. The initiative also sets a deadline of 2012. Decorah officials, though, have no idea what those levels are in their city.

Tjossem and the council decided to act anyway.

"It's not necessary to determine exactly what those levels are, the intent, more importantly, is to strive to reach these goals," she said. "We're all in agreement that's what we want to do."

The movement to join U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement began in January after a citizens group, Kyoto Decorah, approached the City Council. The group gets its name from the Kyoto Protocol, part of an international treaty brokered by the United Nations to address the global warming theory. More than 160 countries have signed on, including the United States, though this country has never ratified the agreement.

Decorah's economic development and community betterment committee examined the issue, and council members unanimously approved the resolution calling for Mayor Arendt to sign the agreement.

In Iowa, Decorah follows the lead of Des Moines, Dubuque and Sioux City in joining the mayors climate agreement. As of Thursday, 442 American cities have adopted the goals, according to Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels' Web site.

Tjossem said one area where Decorah is already in compliance is promoting bicycle trails and public transit. In addition, she said the city is working on making energy efficiency a high priority through building code improvements, and officials are evaluating opportunities to increase pump efficiency in its drinking and wastewater systems. The city also promotes tree planting to increase shade and to absorb carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, she said.

Tjossem added she wants the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement to be more than "just a document."

"We really want to work toward those goals. It's not something meaningless," she said.

Toward that end, Tjossem said the council's utility committee should serve as an "oversight committee" to make sure the city attempts to reach its goals.

Council members Monday also authorized City Administrator Jerry Freund to pay $600 in annual dues to an entity such as the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives. In exchange, the city will receive educational materials, including software, books and technical support.

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