OPINION
PAGE 24
JULY 13-JULY 19,2005
GUEST COMMENTARY
Cities unite on emissions
GREG NICKELS Fifty-fifth and current mayor of Seattle. His four-year term as mayor began on January 1, 2002.
On July 6, the leaders of the world's eight most prosperous nations gathered in Scotland to talk about one of the most important challenges facing the international community: global warming.
With 141 countries committed to the goals of the Kyoto Treaty, the G8 Summit was an opportunity for these world leaders to focus on this urgent problem.
In the United States, cities across the country are taking up this cause. Alongside giants of the private sector, such as the CEOs of General Electric and Cinergy, a movement to address global warming is building.
And why? Because the effects of global warming are being felt everywhere. In the Pacific Northwest, for example, recent declines in mountain snow pack are affecting the water supply and the ability to get hydroelectric power. In response to this and other worrying signs, Seattle has enacted a number of reforms to reduce its greenhouse gases.
As a government, we've reduced emissions from city operations by about 60 percent from 1990 levels. We've evaluated our effect on global warming, converted most of our fleet to hybrid electric cars, and instituted high efficiency standards for buildings.
Seattle City Light, which provides electricity to more than 360,000 homes and businesses, is meeting its commitment of zero net greenhouse gas emissions. And in order to take these successes beyond city government, I've established a Green Ribbon Commission to make community-wide recommendations.
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But Seattle is not the only city concerned with climate change. This past February, I began organizing other mayors to join me in addressing global warming in their own cities. The "U.S.Mayor's Climate Protection Agreement" has been signed by 167 mayors and is supported by the U.S.Conference of Mayors.
In a unanimous vote, the conference passed a resolution supporting the agreement and called for Congress to pass bipartisan greenhouse gas reduction legislation that includes clear time tables and emissions limits.
Progress is being made at the federal level. For the first time, the U.S. Senate in a resolution that passed 54-43—acknowledged the need to set mandatory limits on our nation's greenhouse gas emissions. If Congress continues to move forward on climate change, it will do so with national support.
Sponsored by the nonprofit coalition Clear the Air, a national survey found that three out of four U.S. electric utility customers were concerned about global warming. In contrast, only about one in 10 of those polled said they were not worried about climate change. In fact, more than 75 percent of those polled wanted Congress to require reductions in global warming pollution.
In Seattle, I've seen firsthand how facing the challenge of climate change is the right thing to do for the economy, the regional environment and the quality of life of residents. I know quite a few other mayors who would tell you the same.
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