| Leaders of nearly 40 of the world's largest | | | | "If we don't do it now, we're not going to |
| cities are gathering in New York to exchange | | | | get it done," he said. |
| ideas on combating global warming. VOA | | | | |
| correspondent Peter Heinlein reports former | | | | London already has a congestion tax, and |
| U.S. President Bill Clinton and New York | | | | London's deputy mayor Nicky Gavron says it |
| Mayor Michael Bloomberg are co-hosting the | | | | has changed the city's character. "All sorts |
| C-40 Climate Change Conference. | | | | of people are walking more, cycling more, and |
| | | | the look and feel of London's streets is |
| The New York gathering is the second of its | | | | better, and of course the air quality is so |
| kind. The first, in London two years ago, | | | | much better," he said. |
| drew representatives of 18 large cities. | | | | |
| | | | Mayor's from many of the world's largest |
| London Mayor Ken Livingstone is chairing this | | | | cities are attending the conference, |
| week's event. He is calling on local leaders | | | | including those from Copenhagen, Bangkok, |
| to act, because they are closer to "clean | | | | Tokyo, New Delhi, Mumbai, Karachi and Mexico |
| air" issues than national governments. | | | | City. |
| | | | |
| Among the ideas being discussed is New York | | | | The mayor of Los Angeles, Antonio |
| Mayor Bloomberg's "congestion pricing" | | | | Villaraigosa is planning to announce that his |
| proposal. The idea is to charge drivers | | | | city, the second largest in the United |
| coming in to midtown Manhattan between six | | | | States, will begin it's own carbon reduction |
| a.m. and six p.m. Bloomberg and supporters of | | | | plan. |
| the idea say fewer cars would mean cleaner | | | | |
| air, but critics say it would penalize | | | | Scientists are increasingly concerned about |
| commuters who cannot afford to live in the | | | | the amount big cities contribute to emissions |
| inner city. | | | | of heat-trapping greenhouse gas emissions, |
| | | | including methane and carbon dioxide. In |
| Bloomberg admitted the plan faces an uphill | | | | cities such as New York, buildings contribute |
| fight, but said he would continue to push for | | | | a significant amount to emissions through use |
| the adoption of an eight-dollar per car fee. | | | | of electricity, natural gas and fuel oil. |