Sunday, May 13, 2007

Bloomberg and Clinton Host Climate Summit

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and former US President Bill Clinton are hosting a global summit on climate change in New York with leaders from around the world, according to an AP story in the New York Times online edition.
Mayors and governors of more than 30 localities from Colombia to South Korea, along with executives from a number of international companies, will join Clinton and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg for the C40 Large Cities Climate Summit that begins Monday.
It is the second such gathering; the first was held in 2005 in London, drawing representatives of 18 cities.
The theory behind the conference is that cities must play a major role in reversing climate change, since they contribute 80 percent of the world's greenhouse gas emissions even though they cover less than 1 percent of the Earth's surface.
''Cities must take responsibility for our contribution to global climate change,'' said Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, who is one of the participants. A spokeswoman said he will announce his own city's carbon-reduction plan Tuesday in California before attending the conference.
Greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide and methane, essentially trap solar energy from the sun. In a city like New York, buildings contribute an overwhelming majority of emissions as they consume electricity, natural gas and fuel oil.
This week's conference will feature discussions on ways to build greener cities, use renewable energy sources, transform waste into energy and work with the private sector.

IREJN is Connecticut's Interfaith Power and Light. Visit us at www.irejn.org.

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