Seattle has continued its leadership both locally and nationally in the fight against global climate change. The past year has reminded us of our vulnerability to the extremes that will worsen unless we act to stop the global warming. We suffered the second hottest July and August on record, the wettest November ever and the debilitating wind storm of Dec. 14.

On Feb. 16, 2005, 141 industrial nations ratified into law the U.N.'s Kyoto Protocol on Climate Change. The United States was not among them. We stood by while so many other countries decided that it was time to take action.

On that day Mayor Nickels said "Global warming is an issue that our nation's capitol has turned a deaf ear toward, so the leadership must come from others." He then challenged his fellow mayors around the country to join the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement and pledge to meet or beat the Kyoto target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 7 percent below 1990 levels by 2012.

The U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement now boasts more than 400 signers in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. They represent more than 60 million Americans. With that powerful voice behind us, scores of mayors have joined Mayor Nickels to lobby Congress for some federal action. The results look promising. Serious legislation calling for a national cap, aggressive emission reduction goals and a carbon trading market is now pending in Congress.

Green Ribbon Commission on Climate Protection

On the day he challenged fellow mayors to join his U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement, Mayor Nickels also created and asked a Green Ribbon Commission on Climate Protection to develop a specific plan for Seattle's commitment to meet or beat the Kyoto target.

The Green Ribbon Commission's recommendations, announced in the spring of 2006 with an appearance by former Vice President Al Gore, have been translated by the Office of Sustainability and Environment into one of the most comprehensive climate protection programs in the nation. Many of the Seattle Climate Action Plan's emissions reductions strategies are already in place.

We're increasing the fleet of hybrid vehicles, boosting the use of alternative fuels and making City buildings more energy efficient. We've convened the new Seattle Climate Partnership – composed of influential businesses committed to reducing emissions in their own operations and to increasing their numbers from 31 members today to 100 by the end of 2007. We are working with public and private partners on a creative campaign to engage the public more fully in the fight.

We took these steps not because we believe one city or even a large collection of cities can solve the global climate crisis. We did it because we believe local action can both make our city a better, more secure place to live and spur a broad movement that can push our nation into the international leadership role it rightly should play on this vital issue.

We have not won the fight, and we will not rest on our accomplishments. But we have laid the foundation for a prosperous future based on clean energy and healthy neighborhoods.