New York City hosting world large cities climate summit
14/5/2007 15:59
New York City will host the world large cities climate summit from May
14-17, where mayors and governors will address the role large cities must play
in reducing or reversing the impact of global warming.
The gathering is known
as the C40 Large Cities Climate Summit and will be the second of its kind. The
first was held in 2005, when representatives from 18 cities met in
London.
Former US President Bill Clinton and New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg
will host the international conference at venues in Manhattan.
The Bloomberg
administration has recently set a goal to reduce New York's green gas emissions
by 30 percent by 2030.
Mayors and governors of more than 30 localities from
Colombia to South Korea, along with CEOs from a number of international
companies, will join Clinton and Bloomberg for the conference.
The theory
behind it is that cities must play a major role in reversing climate change -
they cover less than 1 percent of the Earth's surface but are disproportionately
responsible for polluting it, contributing 80 percent of greenhouse gas
emissions.
Greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide, methane and other
gases, essentially trap energy from the sun. In a city like New York, the
operation of buildings - which consume electricity, natural gas, and fuel oil -
contribute an overwhelming majority of emissions.
At the conference,
delegates "will share best practices, identify collaborative projects and chart
future actions relative to reversing dangerous climate change and realizing
economic development benefits," organizers said.
Clinton is also expected to
make a major announcement involving a cross-section of attendees. After the 2005
meeting, the group of cities formed a partnership with Clinton's climate
initiative, which is a project of his presidential foundation.
This week's
conference will feature discussions on building greener cities, using renewable
energy sources, transforming waste into energy and how to engage the private
sector along the way.
According to statistics released by the summit, 2005
was the warmest year on record.
Xinhua
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