Cities’ climate change promises nothing but hot air
January 17th, 2008 by Jim JustMayors of more than 600 nationwide signed the U.S. Conference of Mayors Climate Protection Agreement. The message was supposed to be clear: if the federal government won’t fight global warming, their cities will do everything possible to meet or beat the goals outlined in the Kyoto Protocol themselves.
But few have followed through with concrete action that will guarantee their city’s residents will emit fewer greenhouse gases in 2012 than they did in 1990.
A few cities have taken concrete steps, however feeble. New York City required its cab fleet to use hybrid cars. San Francisco has proposed implementing a city-wide tax on carbon emissions. The Los Angeles Water and Power Department agreed to exceed state mandates and get 35 percent of its electricity from renewable sources by 2020.
But others have done nothing.
Cities have the power to set land-use policies. They decide whether energy efficient appliances will be required in new homes, whether green building standards will be employed and where development will occur. Often the biggest driver of emissions is transportation.
But take a look around. Can anyone claim to see any change in land use planning to address climate change?