Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels has launched a campaign to achieve meaningful federal action to combat climate change.
Speaking at a news conference at the annual winter meeting of the U.S. Conference of Mayors, Nickels announced the Mayors Climate Campaign 2007, which will press the 110th Congress to:
Fund an Energy and Environmental Block Grant of $4 billion to help cities combat global warming by increasing community energy efficiency;
Establish a national cap on greenhouse gas emissions and a flexible market-based system of tradable allowances for emitting industries; and
Pass climate-friendly energy and transportation policies.
“Change is in the air and the time to act is now,” said Mayor Nickels. “In Seattle, where our electric utility is carbon neutral, we are showing that you can power a city without toasting a planet. Now we need our leaders in Washington to step up to the aggressive but achievable goal of cutting emissions 80 percent nationwide by 2050.”
Nickels and nine other mayors started the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement in February 2005. To date, 376 mayors from all 50 states plus the District of Columbia, representing more than 56.4 million Americans, have signed the pledge to take action to cut local emissions in line with the Kyoto Protocols and to press Congress for leadership. The agreement has been unanimously endorsed by the U.S. Conference of Mayors.
“Cities are on the frontlines of climate change with mayors leading the way,” said Conference of Mayors President and Trenton, N.J., Mayor Douglas H. Palmer. “But we can’t do it alone. We need the federal government to be a real partner with us on the issues of climate protection and achieving energy independence. That is why we are proposing an Energy and Environmental Block Grant.”
Cities are leading the charge with innovative programs to fight global warming without any support from the federal government. A few examples:
Seattle’s city owned electric utility, Seattle City Light, is the first power company in the nation to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions. It has done it through conservation, using renewable power sources and investing in mostly local carbon-offset programs.
Austin, Texas, Mayor Will Wynn is promoting wind energy and plug-in hybrids.
Charlotte, N.C., Mayor Patrick McCrory is building mass transit and engaging his community on smart land use planning.
Carmel, Ind., Mayor James Brainard is promoting fuel efficiency, hydrogen cars, and massive tree plantings.