great idea from Seattle - each US city adopt Kyoto Protocol

[donsu]

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/212425_kyoto17.html

Seattle dreams of 'green' team
Mayor urging other U.S. cities to enact Kyoto Protocol


The U.S. government may have turned its back on the Kyoto Protocol, but Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels said yesterday he plans to spearhead a city-by-city effort to implement the climate-protection measures that went into effect in more than 100 other countries yesterday.

Nickels said he is gathering support from mayors in other cities and plans to build a "green" coalition of his counterparts at the U.S. Conference of Mayors when the group meets in Chicago in June.

"Seattle, along with other U.S. cities, will provide the leadership necessary to meet this threat," Nickels said.

He plans to introduce a resolution at the mayors conference setting up the coalition for other cities to join. To be eligible, cities would have to agree to certain steps to lower greenhouse gas emissions. The details of the resolution are still being worked out.

-snip-
read on to see the steps being taken in Seattle
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I like your style Mayor Nickels, more power to you.

[noahmijo]

1. Have I mentioned how badly I want to move to Seattle today?

Man I can't wait to leave this hick infested hellhole here in Az ohhhhhh I can't wait!!

[bahrbearian]

2. We've got better weather too.

Clear and Sunny for 2 weeks.

[maxsolomon]

6. don't do it

stay away

it rains every day, all day

the gloom is unbearable

[noahmijo]

8. That's what I want rain rain and more rain to me it is happiness

Tons of free water vs dry death and 112 degrees half the year.

[Lisa]

10. This is BIG! Most Americans live in cities ...

If major urban areas, and states like California and NY adopt these measures, most of the US population would be covered. That is actually more important than a national government signing or even ratifying Kyoto. Basically, if there isn't any follow-through at the local level, international agreements look nice but lack real power.


EPA's list of states with climate action plans:
http://yosemite.epa.gov/oar/globalwarming.nsf/content/ActionsStateActionPlans.html


Cities for Climate Protection (US):
http://www3.iclei.org/us/participants.cfm

[Oreo]

3. I just emailed Mpls Mayor RT Ryback

According to Popular Science, Minneapolis is the only city that currently passes Kyoto standards. How amazing would it be if he signed it?!?!

[donsu]

4. oh I didn't know that about Minneapolis - that's great

hope Minneapolis signs Kyoto

[Oreo]

5. Here's the article....

To everyone's surprise (including myself) they named Minneapolis the most Technology Savvy city in the country.

http://www.popsci.com/popsci/generaltech/article/0,20967,1027220,00.html

Even as traffic congestion has increased during Rybak’s tenure, Minneapolis has become one of the first cities in the nation to bring emissions down below the levels prescribed by the Kyoto Protocol. Vehicle emissions are still increasing, but greenhouse-gas emissions from other sources have been reduced 15 percent in the past decade, by making buildings, factories and streetlights more energy-efficient and by increasing recycling. Rybak is also encouraging more, and greener, mass transit. The city’s transit commission is testing hybrid buses that will cut emissions even further.

[Oreo]

7. He just replied

Thanks….and also know that we have a long way to go so keep any ideas coming!


He's a great guy. I've seen him a couple times walking around Lake Harriett in Minneapolis. He drives a Prius too!

[rfkrfk]

9. What are progressive states waiting for?

Give your constituents the benefit
of the Kyoto treaty.