Local governments and climate change
"In order to save the Earth, local leaders must make citizens aware of the need to fundamentally alter our social and economic systems right now," Kyoto Mayor Yorikane Masumoto said in his opening remarks to the Kyoto Conference on Climate Change on February 16. "Since the Kyoto Protocol went into effect two years ago, climatologists have amassed even more evidence that man-made greenhouse gases are a major cause of global warming."
Kyoto Governor Keiji Yamada noted the conference in northern Kyoto was opening in unusually warm weather for this time of year, when snow normally covers the ground:
"This mild weather might be nice. But it shows that Kyoto itself has felt the effects of global warming," he said.
The International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives -- Local Governments for Sustainability, a network of 500 local governments worldwide committed to sustainable development, held a conference that ended Sunday with 109 mayors and city council members from 26 countries. About 75 percent of ICLEI members are from developed countries.
Environmental NGOs, academics and representatives from industries involved in environmental technologies also participated to discuss ways in which practical, effective and financially viable public policies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions can be introduced at the local level.
Under the Kyoto Climate Action Declaration released Saturday, all nations are urged to begin negotiating a post-Kyoto Protocol treaty that would mandate a 30 percent reduction in greenhouse gases by 2020 and an 80 percent reduction by 2050.
"It's local governments that have to respond first with local resources when hurricanes, floods and droughts damage cities, towns and villages. Therefore, local governments have a very direct interest in doing everything they can to reduce the effects of global warming," said David Cadman, president of the organization and a councilman from Vancouver, British Columbia.
Essential to the plan is the idea that developing countries can skip a generation of technology development and have access to the latest technologies that curb greenhouse gas emissions.
The Japan Times: Local leaders undaunted by tough greenhouse goals
Kyoto Governor Keiji Yamada noted the conference in northern Kyoto was opening in unusually warm weather for this time of year, when snow normally covers the ground:
"This mild weather might be nice. But it shows that Kyoto itself has felt the effects of global warming," he said.
The International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives -- Local Governments for Sustainability, a network of 500 local governments worldwide committed to sustainable development, held a conference that ended Sunday with 109 mayors and city council members from 26 countries. About 75 percent of ICLEI members are from developed countries.
Environmental NGOs, academics and representatives from industries involved in environmental technologies also participated to discuss ways in which practical, effective and financially viable public policies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions can be introduced at the local level.
Under the Kyoto Climate Action Declaration released Saturday, all nations are urged to begin negotiating a post-Kyoto Protocol treaty that would mandate a 30 percent reduction in greenhouse gases by 2020 and an 80 percent reduction by 2050.
"It's local governments that have to respond first with local resources when hurricanes, floods and droughts damage cities, towns and villages. Therefore, local governments have a very direct interest in doing everything they can to reduce the effects of global warming," said David Cadman, president of the organization and a councilman from Vancouver, British Columbia.
Essential to the plan is the idea that developing countries can skip a generation of technology development and have access to the latest technologies that curb greenhouse gas emissions.
The Japan Times: Local leaders undaunted by tough greenhouse goals
Comments
Nice to see your blog! Hope you are doing well over there in Japan.
Have you seen this new documentary:
http://www.prisonplanet.com/articles/march2007/090307warminghoax.htm
Warm greetings from Sweden.
/Jan-Åke