By Brett Rosenberg
March 28, 2005

Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels announced a program February 16 calling for Seattle and cities across the country to reduce emissions of the heat-trapping gas carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. The United States did not sign on to the Kyoto Protocol, the first international treaty to address climate change, which went into effect on the day of the mayor's announcement. Nickels, however, is working to build a coalition of at least 140 other mayors — the number of countries that did sign on to the treaty — to work toward meeting the Kyoto provisions at the individual local level.

According to a press release, Nickels plans to introduce an urban climate protection agenda at the upcoming U.S. Conference of Mayors Annual Meeting, this June in Chicago. Nickels and a "green team" of at least ten other mayors will urge other cities to go beyond the federal government's efforts in addressing global climate change. "While 141 other nations that have signed the Kyoto Protocol Treaty, our national government leaders have turned a deaf ear," Nickels said during a press conference. "Seattle, along with other U.S. cities, will provide the leadership necessary to meet this threat."

By adopting Kyoto provisions, cities would commit to reducing greenhouse gas emissions to 7 percent below 1990 levels by 2012. Some cities, such as San Francisco and San Jose, have already pledged 20 percent reductions, according to a San Francisco Chronicle article. The cities currently on board with Nickels include Boulder, Co; Burlington, VT; Los Angeles, CA; Madison, WI; Minneapolis, MN; Oakland, CA; Portland, OR; Redmond, WA; Salt Lake City, UT; and Santa Monica, CA. A recent Los Angeles Times article quoted Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson, who said that the world must "reverse the trend toward global warming," adding that "If we do not, the consequences will be devastating."

Strategies that cities can implement to reduce carbon dioxide emissions reductions can work on a number of fronts. So-called green or sustainable municipal buildings can reduce reliance on CO2-emitting fossil fuels, increase energy efficiency and cut energy expenditures. Adopting policies to use wind or solar power to electrify municipal activities reduce fossil fuel use as well. Transitioning municipal vehicle fleets from diesel power to alternative fuels such as biodiesel or natural gas can also yield significant emissions reductions, both in CO2 and unhealthy particulates. Other transportation'related programs, such as promoting public transportation, HOV lane use, and ride sharing have proven effective in emissions reductions.