U.S. Mayors Respond to Washington Leadership Vacuum on Climate Change

[Judi Lynn]

U.S. Mayors Respond to Washington Leadership Vacuum on Climate Change

May 03, 2006 — By Earth Policy Institute

WASHINGTON, D.C. — "Recognizing that global warming may fast be approaching the point of no return and that the world cannot wait for the U.S. government to act, hundreds of U.S. city mayors have pledged to cut emissions of greenhouse gases. By signing the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement, these mayors - representing some 44 million Americans - have committed their cities to meet or beat the U.S. emissions reduction target in the Kyoto Protocol, despite the federal government's refusal to ratify that treaty," says Janet Larsen of the Earth Policy Institute. (See www.earthpolicy.org/Updates/2006/Update53.htm.)

This grassroots political revolution, spearheaded by Greg Nickels, Mayor of Seattle, Washington, and endorsed by the U.S. Conference of Mayors, responds to the mounting concerns of the American people. It calls for reducing greenhouse gas emissions to 7 percent below 1990 levels by 2012. As Burlington, Vermont, Mayor Peter Clavelle noted: "We can't wait for this vacuum of leadership to fill."

Since February 16, 2005, when the Kyoto Protocol came into effect for the 141 ratifying countries, 227 U.S. cities, including New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago, have joined the mayors' agreement. The Northeast, the Great Lakes Region, and the West Coast are particularly well represented, and the list keeps growing. (See map and additional data at www.earthpolicy.org/Updates/2006/Update53_data.htm.)

The group includes communities with an eye on global problems and those concerned about local climate-related impacts. For example, a dozen coastal Florida cities that risk destruction from storms and rising seas have signed on. Even before Hurricane Katrina, Mayor Ray Nagin noted a similar concern regarding New Orleans, stating "the rise of the Earth's temperature, causing sea level increases that could add up to one foot {30.5 centimeters} over the next 30 years, threatens the very existence of New Orleans".
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http://www.enn.com/aff.html?id=1274

[rodeodance]

1. I think this was the plan all along---have the locals pay/do it.

[rodeodance]

2. and only have the Feds tell us who to sleep with , etc etc.

[rodeodance]

3. But it is not really a vacuum--its an immoral stance from the WH.

[Uncle Joe]

4. It sure is nice to know, we at least have leaders

on the local level, it's just tragic we don't have any in our most powerful positions of government. It seems the grass roots will have to be our saviour whether it be saving life as we know it from global warming or impeaching the impostor. Keep your fingers crossed and maybe one day we will have a real President again.