Mercer Island City Councilmember Steve Litzow recently joined several local leaders, businessmen and the presumptive Republican presidential nominee John McCain to discuss global warming in North Bend.

The forum was held at the Cedar River Watershed Educational Center last Tuesday, May 13, and included former Governor Dan Evans. The panel discussed how the federal and local governments, companies and nonprofits can work together to reduce carbon emissions and the effects of global warming. Litzow said he was selected to participate because of the leading role that Mercer Island has taken to build a sustainable community.

McCain spoke briefly about his “cap and trade” system proposal that would provide incentives for businesses to limit their carbon emissions in an effort to slow global warming. Litzow said they also talked about a matching fund program that the federal government would establish to help local governments purchase hybrid vehicles.

“The problem is that all the sinking funds and mechanisms for purchasing government vehicles are based on the costs of standard vehicles, but hybrids cost about $10,000 more each,” said the Councilmember.

Litzow is also running as a Republican for a seat in the state House of Representatives. Sustainability is one of his top priorities.