CITIES ACT ON CO2 WHILE FEDS DITHER

One point not always in the headline accounts: The program establishes BENCHMARKS which must be met, according to on-going neutral audits, or the programs will be altered to achieve the benchmarks.

Cities to start cutting carbon emissions
Sara Kugler, May 16, 2007 (AP via Yahoo News)

WHO
Fifteen cities, Former President Bill Clinton, the Clinton Climate Initiative (Ira Magaziner, chairman) and partners Citigroup Inc., Deutsche Bank AG, JPMorgan Chase & Co., UBS AG, and ABN Amro
Wherever you are -- city, town or country -- you do what you can (click to enlarge)
WHAT
Renovating city-owned buildings with New Energy technology to reduce CO2 emissions.

WHEN
Announcement of program May 16.

WHERE
- Announcement made in New York City as part of a mayor’s summit.
- Cities participating include New York, Chicago, Houston, Toronto, Mexico City, London, Berlin, Tokyo, Rome; Karachi, Pakistan; Seoul, South Korea; Bangkok, Thailand; Melbourne, Australia; Sao Paulo, Brazil; and Johannesburg, South Africa.

WHY
- Cities cover less than 1% of the Earth's surface but generate 80% of heat-trapping greenhouse gases.
- Large world financial institutions have promised $1 billion in financing for municipal building upgrades in participating cities.
- Rennovations & replacements: heating, cooling and lighting systems; New energy-efficient networks; Thermally-sensitive white or reflective roofs; Insulation; Sealed/light maximizing windows; Sensors for lights and air conditioning.
- The changes potentially reduce energy use 20-50%, decreasing greenhouse gas emissions emissions and reducing utility bills.
- Banks pay, cities get the technology, pay back loans, plus interest, through the energy savings over time.
- Honeywell International Inc., Johnson Controls Inc., Siemens AG and American Standard Cos. Inc. will audit. If expected savings are not realized, adjustments will be made.
Lighting a CFL instead of cursing the darkness
QUOTES
- Clinton: "They're going to save money, make money, create jobs and have a tremendous collective impact on climate change all at once…"
- New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg: "By bringing together cities and partnering with the private sector, President Clinton and the Clinton foundation are providing the tools to help cities achieve our goals…"
- London Mayor Ken Livingstone: "This procurement alliance will make it financially feasible for cities to radically cut emissions from building…"