Schwarzenegger addresses US Conference of MayorsOver the weekend, the mayors of approximately 1,000 cities converged on Los Angeles for the annual meeting of The U.S. Conference of Mayors. Designed to promote effective national urban policy and the strengthening of relationships between federal and local governments, the organization provides a forum for mayors to share ideas and information.

One idea already appears to be on the minds of all mayors: climate change. By listing climate change as their top priority for strengthening the nation, the mayors continue to lead the way for other levels of government. California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger spoke to the group and encouraged them to continue their progress, earning a standing ovation from the crowd.

The mayors’ commitment to the environment showed in the results of a survey conducted by the Conference, which was completed by 134 cities. There were many encouraging points (from their recent press release):

• More than 80% of the responding cities now use renewable energy, or are considering beginning to do so by next year.
• 97% of the cities (all but four respondents) are using more energy-efficient lighting technologies in public buildings, streetlights, parks, traffic signals, and other applications, or expect to by next year.
• 72% of the responding mayors stated that their city fleets now run on alternative fuels and/or use hybrid-electric technology.
• Nearly 90% of the cities require, or anticipate requiring in the next year, that new city government buildings be more energy efficient and environmentally sustainable.
• More than 75% of the cities are undertaking efforts to encourage the private sector to construct buildings that are energy efficient and use sustainable building techniques.

In addition, 540 mayors have signed The U.S. Conference of Mayors' Climate Protection Agreement as of last week, committing to reduce carbon emissions in their cities to below 1990 levels, in line with the Kyoto protocol. The agreement was enacted “due to an absence of federal leadership.”

However, some movement has been seen lately at the federal level. New legislation based on the mayors' recommendations, the Energy and Environment Block Grant program, would provide grants at the city, county and state levels to promote energy efficiency and reduce energy dependence. The Senate is currently working on the legislation, with the House scheduled to consider it next week. In the meantime, it doesn’t matter where the leadership and change come from, as long as it comes.

Photo credit: The U.S. Conference of Mayors