Mayors gather in Alaska to discuss global warming

[Robbien]

Mayors from 32 U.S cities gathered in Anchorage, Alaska over the weekend to discuss global warming.

As a dig at President Bush and his ignorance of the issue, Mayor Rocky Anderson of Salt Lake City said "We need to find the leadership in this country, if it's not going to come from the top down. ... We need to push from the bottom up."

"Mayors have been leading the way on this issue through local efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions," said Tom Cochran, executive director. "This meeting will provide the additional assistance needed to keep cities moving forward as we strive to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and stop global warming."

Nearly 300 mayors have signed an agreement pledging to reduce carbon dioxide pollution in their cities to 7 percent below 1990 levels by 2012.

http://www.alaskareport.com/wn10101.htm

[TheMadMonk]

1. Alaska? For the balmy tropical feel? n/t

[Tempest]

6. Because the effects of global warming in Alaska are very real

Permafrost around Fairbanks, which has been frozen solid for tens of thousands of years, is melting at an accelerated rate. Houses are falling into sinkholes in several areas around town, including in my sister's neighborhood.

Above the Arctic Circle, areas that get 6 to 8 months of frozen lakes are now seeing lakes that don't get completely frozen over.

Northern passages above Alaska are not completely freezing over and polar bears are unable to travel and hunt.

[0rganism]

7. IIRC, the melting permafrost releases tons of methane, too

Not only does that exacerbate the greenhouse gas problem, I can't imagine it smelling very nice...

[Kutjara]

2. I think the real reason Bush doesn't take global warming seriously...

...is that he doesn't believe the world is a globe.

[Robbien]

3. Ha!

Thanks I needed the laugh.

[Joe Bacon]

5. But Tom Friedman says the WORLD is FLAT

Just like Bush's head!

[zbdent]

4. Maybe that's why they needed that $200M for the bridge to the island

of 50 people ... they were planning on setting up a beach resort ...