Meet Seattle, Washington, mayor Greg Nickels

Mayor Nickels challenged mayors across the country to join Seattle, Washington, in taking local action to reduce global warming pollution. Now more than 400 mayors around the country have signed on. This is what he has to say about it, and other initiatives he's pursuing in his city

TFK:
Why the focus on the environment for you?

Mayor Nickels:
I've made the environment an important part of my work because a healthy planet is the starting point for all the things that make for a great quality of life. Everyone wants to have clean air, clean water and thriving forests for ourselves and for animals. A clean environment also helps our economy because there are many exciting new job opportunities in industries that are finding cleaner, greener ways to make and use energy.

TFK:
Tell us about the US Mayors Climate Protection Agreement.

Mayor Nickels:
I issued a challenge to mayors around the country: sign a pledge to cut your community's emissions to 7 percent below 1990 levels by 2012. That's the target for nations signing on to Kyoto. (The Kyoto Protocol is an international agreement to cut greenhouse gases.) Together we will show other cities what is possible. And together we will challenge our nation through our example.

TFK:
How did you come up with the idea and were you surprised at the response?

Mayor Nickels:
Our goal was to have 141 cities by the end of the first year. I'm happy to report that about two years later, 432 cities in every state and the District of Columbia have signed on. They represent more than 61 million Americans. I think we've shown the world and our leaders in Washington that Americans are serious about finding solutions to climate disruption and leading the world to a healthy and prosperous future.

TFK:
What are the biggest challenges for Seattle in terms of reducing emissions?

Mayor Nickels:
The biggest challenge is helping people find ways to use less gasoline in their cars. Driving is the biggest single source of greenhouse gases in Seattle. We're investing in more and better bus service, a new light rail system, and more biking and walking trails to give people choices other than driving alone in traffic. We're also helping our neighborhoods grow in a way that allows people to get from their homes to work and school, go shopping and or see a movie without having to use a car.

Zoomazium
Seattle's Woodland Park Zoo receives over one million visitors a year. Its new Zoomazium, a green building and indoor learning place for families is helping teach kids about the native Northwest biome and how we can build in the city with less environmental impact. It features a "green roof" also known as a "vegetated roof". The roof is planted with over 20,000 native plants such as sword fern, salal, beach strawberry, nodding onion and blue eyed grass, and is designed to work like and look like a forest floor. It is about 8,000 square feet - that's nearly twice the size of a basketball court.

Vegetated roofs can help protect climates from global warming. Here's how: vegetation helps reduce carbon in the air and helps lower overall temperatures in cities, where temperatures typically run higher because hard surfaces retain heat. The vegetated roof also helps reduce stormwater run-off and create a place for birds and insects to thrive.

TFK:
How can kids get involved and make a difference when it comes to global warming?

Mayor Nickels:
If you live close to school but still get there by car, organize your friends and a parent and walk together. Or, tell your parents that it's better for the environment to carpool. Ask your folks to turn the heat down a couple of degrees and take them to the store to buy super-efficient compact fluorescent light bulbs. Take a shorter shower and save the energy that heats the water. All these things will help solve global warming and save your family money. Maybe you can throw a climate-solutions party with the savings!