By Heather Lawrie and Ted Fischer
February 6, 2006

Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels reported to mayors attending The United States Conference of Mayors 74th Winter Meeting January 27 on the progress of the U.S. Mayor’s Climate Protection Agreement. The agreement sets the stage for local leadership in alleviating greenhouse gas emissions and calls on the federal government to establish a national policy to enable further progress in achieving emission reductions. Nickels also reported that “as of January 26, 2006, 200 mayors have joined the Climate Change Agreement, representing over 41 million Americans.”

In describing what a tremendous problem global climate change is to both the economic and environmental health of our nation, he said, “We must take action now.” Reduced water levels in Seattle-area reservoirs and the lack of mountain snow fall over the past few years have energized Nickels to push for stronger environmental safeguards and encourage other mayors to start looking at impacts on their local natural resources.

Nickels noted that 74 percent of Americans are concerned about global warming, suggesting the importance of this as a national issue. Nickels cited the work of several mayors and their local efforts to combat global climate change. For example, Austin Mayor Will Wynn with his Plug-In Hybrid Program; Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson and his program to offer free parking for hybrid vehicles; and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s program that converts conventional taxis into hybrid vehicles. Nickels’ Seattle Green Ribbon Committee is another example of a strong community support system that includes commitments from Starbucks, REI, and other sponsors.

Nickels thanked the mayors for their strong dedication and support on the issue of global climate change, and stated that, “There needs to be more flexibility within cities, since it is harder to accomplish on a federal level.” He also spoke of the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement that he spearheaded to reduce greenhouse gas emissions locally. He said, “Two hundred mayors and counting have signed on, and we have plenty of work left to do. We need to grow a coalition and network that works. We need to be able to trade information and create a menu of items that are working. 150,000 lives a year are lost due to climate change and it something that is preventable,” Nickels concluded.