At the United States Conference of Mayors in June 2005, 168 mayors from 37 states signed a pact which commits their cities to "meet or beat" the measures outlined in the Kyoto agreement. This will not be an easy task. Over the next five years, their cities will need to drop vehicle and power plant emissions back down to 1990 levels, approximately a 13% drop.

     The task has not daunted other cities from joining this particular "coalition of the willing" - currently all fifty states are now represented, a total of 418 cities representing over 60 million Americans!

     Mayor Greg Nickels of Seattle had been leading this charge by example. City government officials estimate that greenhouse gas emissions in the city were reduced by 60 per cent during the 1990s. Seattle's power utility company is the only one in the nation with zero net greenhouse gas emissions, and the city has offered incentives for carpooling to reduce vehicle exhausts.

     Following Seattle's inspirational example, another 16 U.S. cities have already brought their emissions levels below 1990 levels, and done so cost-effectively; the combined savings for

these cities has exceeded $600 million! Large cities which have joined this initiative include New York City, Los Angeles, Miami, Philadelphia, Dallas, Boston and Denver, to name but a few. Of note also is New Orleans, whose mayor jumped at the chance to sign an agreement which he believes could be vital to the city's very survival.

     We are particularly pleased to see that The Green Room's home city of Rochester, NY is also on the list.

     Recently, the mayors of Chicago and Toronto have each declared plans to make their respective cities the greenest in North America. There is sure to be a strong rivalry between these two sister cities, which can only be a good thing - the stronger the competition, the more incentive each city has to make a difference.

     Chicago has planted trees along the medians of 72 miles (115 km) of city streets as well as offering quick approvals and fee rebated to developers of green buildings. A green-roof initiative has also been implemented, with developers having already installed or planned 3 million square feet (278,700 square meters) of green roofs across the city.

     Not to be outdone, Toronto has reduced its per-capita annual greenhouse gas emissions to 10 metric tons, less than half the Canadian national average. The city is also running an ambitious recycling program, diverting over 40% of the city's waste to where it can be reused rather than becoming landfill. The city is considering making environmental standards for large buildings mandatory rather than voluntary, and is petitioning the national capital for expansion of public transit programs to avoid unnecessary car emissions. The city's tree canopy is up to 18% coverage, and getting larger. The mayor of Toronto also recently met with renowned environmentalist David Suzuki to discuss further measures the city can take.

     These mayors are serious about their environmental commitments, and are setting a superb example for other communities and even for individuals who wish to curb their environmental impact. Additionally, nine states - California, New York, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New Hampshire, Vermont, Connecticut, Maine and Delaware - have also committed to doing their part, and Pennsylvania, Maryland and the District of Columbia are considering joining in. With enough support, perhaps we can yet make America a leader in the fight against climate change.