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GLOBAL WARMING- The Time to Act Is Now The sciemific community has concluded that buming fossil fuels-oil, coal, and natural gas-to power our cars, homes and businesses is causing global temperatures to rise. This heating of the earth poses a serious threat to our health, safety, and environment. The national science academies of the United States, England, France, Russia, Germany, Japan, Italy, Canada, Brazil, China and India issued the following joint declaration in June 2005: "The scientific understanding of climate change is now sufficiently clear to justify nations taking prompt action." The world's leading scientists ask us to "recognize that delayed action will increase the risk of adverse environmental effects and will likely incur a greater cost." [Source: "Joint Science Academies' << z ;; '" r1 ~ ir, z ~ '" Keeping Warm, Keeping Cool-In Klamath Falls, Oregon, a geothermal district heating system keeps the sidewalks clear and dry at the Basin Transit station. The 22,000 square-foot garden on the "green" roof of Chicago's city hall cools the building during the city's hot summers. 8A Paae 17 Cool CITIES:?' Statement: Global Response to Climate Change," June 2005-royalsoc.ac.uk/document.asp ?id=3222) Cities Take the Lead The good news is our cities have not become para- lyzed by the threat of global climate change. Instead, they are taking the lead with the "U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreemem" initiated by Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels. Introduced on February 16, 2005-the same day that the Kyoto Protocol international global warm- ing treaty rook effect in 141 nations-the agreement is gathering support around the country and b.as earned the backing of the U.S. Conference of Mayors. To date, more than 200 mayors representing more rhan 42 mil- lion Americans in 38 states have signed on, pledging to reduce global warming carbon dioxide (C02) pollution cityWide to 7 percent below 1990 levels by 2012. [Go to seattle.gov/mayor/c1imate for more information on the mayors' climate protection agreement.] How will these cities accomplish these ambitious goals in the next seven years? And how can your city become a Cool City? Seattle: Cool City Model The city of Seattle is on the forefront of global warm- ing local solutions. Under Mayor Greg Nickels' leader- ship, the city government has already reduced its own global warming pollution by more than 60 percent by conStructing green buildings and operating alternative fuel vehicles. Seattle City Light is the only electric utility in the country producing zero net greenhouse gas emis- sions, and the city is working to expand transportation choices, recycling, and urban forest restoration. Mayor Nickels has also created a Green Ribbon Commission on Climate Protection, composed of busi- ness, environmental, government, community, and labor leaders. The Commission is developing a plan for Seattle to meet its global warming pollution reduction targets, and identifying key economic opportunities for Seattle's transition to a clean energy hJture. "By making smart choices like building sustainable buildings, replacing old vehicles with a 'Clean and Green' fleet, and setting strict 'no-net-emissions' goals for Seattle City Light, the City has shown we can take local action on global problems," said Mayor Nickels. LEARN MORE To find out about Seattle's Climate Initiative, see ci.seattle.wa.us/environment/dimateinitiative.html