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