Cities pushing nations toward deeper cuts

[OKIsItJustMe]

http://wwwp.dailyclimate.org/tdc-newsroom/2009/12/cities-key-to-pushing-nations

Thursday, December 17 2009

Cities pushing nations toward deeper cuts

16 December 2009

'We will go further, and we will make it safe for politicians to go further.'

By Douglas Fischer
DailyClimate.org editor

COPENHAGEN – Mayors of some of the world's largest cities flexed their muscle at the United Nations climate talks Wednesday, warning that "billions of people" are prepared to cut emissions far beyond whatever agreement world leaders may ink this week.

"We at the local level have too much to lose," said Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels. "We will go further, and we will make it safe for (politicians) to go further. We will push the envelope."

Nickels and mayors of Delhi, Mexico City, Johannesburg, Melbourne – representing some 45 million people total – said they were pushing forward with ambitious climate adaptation and mitigation efforts, even as their national leaders remained stuck on those very points.

They had no choice, said Melbourne Mayor Robert Doyle. Earlier this year the worst wildfires in Australia's history grazed the outskirts of his city, killing more than 75 people. Experts attributed the exceptionally fierce blaze to drought conditions that scientists predict will become increasingly common as emissions increase.

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