Washington Needed After All?

"Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels has led the fight by U.S. cities to do something about climate change (while the federal government twiddles its thumbs). And while there has been tangible progress made by many cities...U.S. mayors are realizing they don't have the money to make the kind of impact that is necessary to truly buckle the knees of rising greenhouse-gas emissions."

"This is one area in which Canada has taken a more enlightened approach. The new rapid-transit system being built from Vancouver International Airport into the heart of the city, for instance, is a billion-dollar enterprise being massively financed by Ottawa and the B.C. government."

"While many U.S. cities are riding the wave of momentum that exists around global warming, others have done little more than announce vague goals that aren't supported by any kind of realistic plan to achieve them. Staff at city halls across the United States are stretched thin at the best of times. Many cities are finding they just don't have the resources to dedicate solely to the climate-change challenge."

"Ultimately, it is going to take action by Washington to force real change."