The Westchester Global Warming Action Plan 2008 has been unveiled. Every resident, business, government and school in Westchester should strive to reduce its “carbon footprint” by 20 percent by 2015. This is an important interim goal of an ambitious, but doable, countywide action plan to help combat global warming.

This is County Executive Andy Spano's call to action. It follows the release on Feb. 26 of a comprehensive plan from his task force on global warming, detailing what Westchester can and must do to meet the worldwide challenge of climate change.

The Global Warming Task Force has set an aggressive reduction goal for greenhouse gas emissions by all sectors of the community -- a 20 percent reduction by 2015 and an 80 percent reduction by 2050. 

The 34-member task force was assisted by more than 70 volunteers with expertise in a wide range of areas. The action plan provides short-term and long-term steps for every sector: individuals, businesses, schools and governments.