22 Cities Join Clinton Anti-Warming Effort

[cal04]

Twenty-two of the world's largest cities announced yesterday that they will work together to limit their contributions to global warming in an effort led by former president Bill Clinton.

The Clinton Climate Initiative -- which will create an international consortium to bargain for cheaper energy-efficient products and share ideas on cutting greenhouse gas pollution -- includes Chicago, Los Angeles, Philadelphia and New York as well as Cairo, Delhi, London and Mexico City. While the group is not setting specific targets for reducing emissions, Clinton said he is confident the effort will both cut pollution and create jobs in the cities that contribute most to higher temperatures.

"It no longer makes sense for us to debate whether or not the Earth is warming at an alarming rate, and it doesn't make sense for us to sit back and wait for others to act," Clinton said, speaking at a Los Angeles news conference with Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa (D) and London and San Francisco city leaders. "The fate of the planet that our children and grandchildren will inherit is in our hands, and it is our responsibility to do something about this crisis."

The endeavor comes on the heels of Monday's announcement by California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) that he will work with British Prime Minister Tony Blair to trade carbon dioxide emissions and share clean-energy technology.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/08/01/AR2006080101327.html

[Erika]

1. Clinton is a leader, W would be wise to take advice from him

The bushbot republicans and their ignorance are being left behind as they refuse to lead in these vital areas.

[blueinchicago]

2. My two cents

Here are some no brainers:

Every city join the Rooftop Project--put solar panels on public building rooftops.

No taxis that get less than 30 mpg.

All summer vehicles run on E85 OR biodiesel. Hire youths to cut public lawns with oldfashioned lawn cutters.

Require parking lots at big box stores to replace the unused portions (which are huge) with grass and native plants.

Require all businesses that keep lights on during daylight hours (restaurants, banks) to have 50% of their lighting in energy effient mediums, like cfls.

More trees (appropriate to the biome that the city replaced).

[eleny]

3. Xeriscaping instead of conventional lawns

[oberliner]

4. Good work, Mr. Clinton

Nice to see more action being taken on this issue by leaders with intelligence.