Livingstone and Clinton launch climate pact
London mayor Ken Livingstone is teaming up with Bill Clinton in Los Angeles tonight to launch a pact to help major cities around the world cut greenhouse gas emissions.
The two cities, with 20 others including Berlin, Mexico City, New York, Paris, and Rome, signed up for the first project from the former US president’s new Clinton Climate Initiative to combat global warming.
It plans to help cities reduce the amount of carbon dioxide they release into the environment through methods such as a purchasing consortium to lower the prices of energy saving products.
The announcement of the initiative was also set to be attended by British Prime Minister Tony Blair, who yesterday unveiled his own climate change agreement with California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Mr Livingstone, who is chair of the Large Cities Climate Leadership Group, said: “There is no bigger task for humanity than to avert catastrophic climate change.
“The world’s largest cities can have a major impact on this.
“Already they are at the centre of developing the technologies and innovative new practices that provide hope that we can radically reduce carbon emissions.”
He added: “On behalf of the Large Cities Climate Leadership Group, I am delighted to be able to enter into this new partnership to rapidly accelerate cities’ response to global warming.
“Our aim is simple – to change the world.”
Other politicians at the event included Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom.
Mr Clinton said the partnership would take practical, measurable steps to slow down global warming.
Urban areas are currently responsible for more than 75% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions.
“It no longer makes sense for us to debate whether or not the earth is warming at an alarming rate, and it doesn’t make sense for us to sit back and wait for others to act,” Mr Clinton said.
“The fate of the planet that our children and grandchildren will inherit is in our hands, and it is our responsibility to do something about this crisis.”
The purchasing consortium will be similar to a Clinton Foundation initiative to lower the prices of drugs used to treat Aids, officials said.
Other plans include the creation of common measurement tools and internet-based communications systems so that cities can establish a baseline on greenhouse gas emissions and compare their progress.
Practical steps they can take to increase efficiency and reduce emissions include introducing more energy efficient lighting for traffic and street lights and building codes that make use of more effective insulation.
