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'Mayors from more than 40 of the world's most polluted cities have declared at a climate summit here that cities must take the lead in the campaign to reverse global warming.'
These countries are carrying out national policies in hope to reduce carbon emissions and develop more energy-efficient infrastructure. 'As cities produce three-fourths of the carbon emissions, we must act,' London Mayor Ken Livingstone told delegates, describing climate change as 'the single biggest threat to the future of humanity'. During the meeting, there was a 'pledge by 514 US mayors to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in line with the Kyoto Protocol, a move which signals their objections to the environmental policies of US President George W. Bush.' Governer Shintaro Ishihara felt that it was ridiculous that the US did not ratify the Kyoto Protocol. Mr Ishihara also implemented tough regulations on diesel vehicles in Tokyo. New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg also criticised governmental inaction on climate change, telling delegates: 'We need no new technology, we need no new invention, all that is required is political will.'
I have to say that i entirely agree with what Michael Bloomberg said. We can have the best technology and inventions to lower carbon emissions around the world, however without the political will of the governments of cities, it would be of no use at all. The mayors of the other US cities have all signed an accord to slash pollutants to below 1990 levels by 2012. It is probably because of his personal pride, George Bush is unwilling to ratify the Kyoto Protocol as it was against his own environmental policies. As the president of the United States, he should have the people and the country's future in mind when making any decisions, however this time he is defending his own personal pride and sacrificing probably the future of the entire planet.
Sydney's Lord Mayor Clover Moore planned to ask other cities to follow Sydney by implementing an 'Earth Hour', during which businesses and homes turn off their lights for one hour to reduce energy consumption. The city's first 'Earth Hour', on March 31, was hailed as a success. It cut normal energy use by 10 per cent. I feel this idea implemented by Lord Mayor Clover Moore is very innovative and an effective way to cut down energy consumption. This is because he is using this 'Earth Hour' to challenge the people to do what is right for environment and the world they are living in, and this method is very efficient.
Forget about fancy hybrid cars that claim to reduce gas emissions and other technologies that claim to reduce harm to environment. The most important is the people. If the leaders of the world can think of a way to encourage the people to save power and have a 'greener' lifestyle, then that would probably be the best way to tackle this problem of global warming. Well, not only the leaders can influence the people. Everybody, you and I can do our part by spreading the word of maintaining a clean and green society! As students, we can try to turn the lights off when they are not in use and encourage our parents to use cleaner and greener car petrol. We can all do our part to save the Earth.
Percy Shelly once said, "Fear not for the future, weep not for the past."
The future is all in our hands, it's just whether we want to make a difference.
These countries are carrying out national policies in hope to reduce carbon emissions and develop more energy-efficient infrastructure. 'As cities produce three-fourths of the carbon emissions, we must act,' London Mayor Ken Livingstone told delegates, describing climate change as 'the single biggest threat to the future of humanity'. During the meeting, there was a 'pledge by 514 US mayors to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in line with the Kyoto Protocol, a move which signals their objections to the environmental policies of US President George W. Bush.' Governer Shintaro Ishihara felt that it was ridiculous that the US did not ratify the Kyoto Protocol. Mr Ishihara also implemented tough regulations on diesel vehicles in Tokyo. New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg also criticised governmental inaction on climate change, telling delegates: 'We need no new technology, we need no new invention, all that is required is political will.'
I have to say that i entirely agree with what Michael Bloomberg said. We can have the best technology and inventions to lower carbon emissions around the world, however without the political will of the governments of cities, it would be of no use at all. The mayors of the other US cities have all signed an accord to slash pollutants to below 1990 levels by 2012. It is probably because of his personal pride, George Bush is unwilling to ratify the Kyoto Protocol as it was against his own environmental policies. As the president of the United States, he should have the people and the country's future in mind when making any decisions, however this time he is defending his own personal pride and sacrificing probably the future of the entire planet.
Sydney's Lord Mayor Clover Moore planned to ask other cities to follow Sydney by implementing an 'Earth Hour', during which businesses and homes turn off their lights for one hour to reduce energy consumption. The city's first 'Earth Hour', on March 31, was hailed as a success. It cut normal energy use by 10 per cent. I feel this idea implemented by Lord Mayor Clover Moore is very innovative and an effective way to cut down energy consumption. This is because he is using this 'Earth Hour' to challenge the people to do what is right for environment and the world they are living in, and this method is very efficient.
Forget about fancy hybrid cars that claim to reduce gas emissions and other technologies that claim to reduce harm to environment. The most important is the people. If the leaders of the world can think of a way to encourage the people to save power and have a 'greener' lifestyle, then that would probably be the best way to tackle this problem of global warming. Well, not only the leaders can influence the people. Everybody, you and I can do our part by spreading the word of maintaining a clean and green society! As students, we can try to turn the lights off when they are not in use and encourage our parents to use cleaner and greener car petrol. We can all do our part to save the Earth.
Percy Shelly once said, "Fear not for the future, weep not for the past."
The future is all in our hands, it's just whether we want to make a difference.
