July 4, 2008—The United States Conference of Mayors recently released a 132-city survey to highlight the impact of rising gas prices and the US economy on mayors’ climate protection efforts in cities around the country.
Mayors included in the survey have also signed the Mayors’ Climate Protection Agreement, in line with the Kyoto Protocol, where they pledge to significantly reduce carbon emissions by 2012. Nearly three in four mayors say gas prices and current economic conditions are adversely affecting their cities’ financial commitments that would help meet the goals of the agreement.
Not surprisingly, nearly nine in 10 of the survey mayors say that higher fuel prices are having a significant or very significant impact (31%) on their city budget and operations. Three in four of the mayors say rising gas prices prompted their city to scrutinize public transportation within their climate protection strategy.
Of these mayors, nine in 10 say their city is placing more emphasis on providing alternatives to driving (e.g., transit, walking and bicycling, carpools, etc), and three in four say they are considering additional changes in land use and development practices to support more alternatives to solo driving.
Nearly nine in 10 mayors report that they have partnered with their local K-12 school system in efforts to achieve Mayors Climate Protection Agreement goals, or they expect to do so in the next year. Partnerships are already in place in 61% of the cities. Partnerships on climate protection have also been formed with universities, colleges, and local school systems in most cities.
