Plan to Cut U.S. Emissions Backed by 1,000 Mayors

MESA, AZ - Mayor Scott Smith became the 1,000th signatory to sign the Washington-based U.S. Conference of Mayors' (USCM) Climate Protection Agreement, which calls for a reduction in carbon emissions by 7 percent below 1990 levels as called for by the Kyoto Protocol. With Smith's signature on Oct. 2, the mayors of 86 million Americans have agreed to significantly reduce carbon emissions in cities.

U.S. Conference of Mayors President Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels announced Smith's signature during USCM's leadership meeting in Seattle, during which more than 60 met between Oct. 1-3, along with several federal officials to discuss stimulus implementation, climate protection, green jobs creation, and other policies that affect urban America and metropolitan areas. Nickels initially introduced the agreement to USCM in February 2005 with 141 original mayoral signers symbolizing the 141 countries signed onto Kyoto. "Global warming is real and demands our immediate response," Nickels said while announcing the 1000th signature on the agreement. "It is in our national interest to act now, and mayors understand that a successful plan in this country for reducing our energy consumption begins in cities and local communities."

Smith said the agreement is a bipartisan effort to improve the environment. "We may not all agree on specific action points, but we are united in a common goal of responsible environmental stewardship," Smith said after signing the agreement.

The mayors attending the leadership meeting also discussed the Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act, which would extend funding for the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant, a program first conceived by USCM, beyond the funding included in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. More information on the meeting is available at www.usmayors.org.

Click here to view the full list of mayors.