Carmel Mayor To Work At White House Dec. 10

Carmel’s Mayor is going to the White House next month.

Jim Brainard was appointed to a climate change task force and will attend its first meeting there December 10.

"The task force will play a critical role in helping the federal government respond to the needs of communities across the nation dealing with the impacts of climate change," he said.  "I think in some sense it's a recognition that the change coming in environmental policy is coming from the cities not the federal government.  It's really coming from the bottom up."

Brainard says he hopes to share some of the environmentally innovative projects that are happening in Carmel with the rest of the task force, including the city's use of roundabouts and expansion of park land and street trees.

"We are focused on building a walkable community," he said.

The task force includes 26 members of state, local and tribal leaders.

Brainard is one of four Republicans appointed, but says politics should be ignored when working on issues such as climate change.

"People can argue over why the climate is warming.  It's a fact that it's warming.  Some people don't believe the science that it is man-made.  I'm not sure that's that important," said Brainard.  "This task force is about resiliency and what we are going to do about it."

Brainard expects the task force to come together about four at the White House over the next year.

"Good ideas are always a benefit.  If we choose to implement some of the good ideas we learn, that's always a benefit to Central Indiana and Carmel," he said.   "It helps put Carmel on the map.  It helps draw attention to our community and that's a good thing.  It allows a platform for me to tell our story."