The United States Conference of Mayors announced that more than 900 mayors have signed the U.S. Conference of Mayors Climate Protection Agreement.
Under the agreement, cities pledged to reduce carbon emissions by 7 percent below 1990 levels over the next four years; strive to meet or beat the Kyoto Protocol targets in their own communities; and to urge Congress to pass the bipartisan GHG reduction legislation.
The mayors of New Egypt, N.J., Savannah, Ga.; Lake Placid, N.Y., Springfield, Ill., and Redondo Beach, Calif., are among the latest to sign the agreement. The organization says the agreement now represents more than 81 million Americans. Here is a list of mayors who signed the agreement.
The organization says the milestone of 902 mayors signing the agreement comes as President-elect Barack Obama issued a major policy statement on global warming.
The initiative was launched three years ago by Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels, vice president of the conference, to advance the goals of the Kyoto Protocol through leadership and action by American cities.
According to a January poll conducted by the United States Conference of Mayors and Zogby International, most Americans believe local efforts to be environmentally sensitive by “going green” will pay off for their communities by attracting new businesses and development.