US mayors to vote on climate change resolution

US mayors to vote on climate change resolution
Ernest Moniz, right, secretary, United States Deptartment of Energy, discusses climate protection with Gina McCarthy, ledt, United States Environmental Protection Agency, and David Agnew at the U.S. Conference of Mayors at the Omni Hotel in Dallas, on June 22, 2014. Attendees of the U.S. Conference of Mayors voted Sunday to sign the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement in Dallas, on Sunday, June 22, 2014. The resolution encourages cities to use natural solutions to "protect freshwater supplies, defend the nation's coastlines, maintain a healthy tree cover and protect air quality," sometimes by partnering with nonprofit organizations. The resolution only "encourages" steps rather than mandating action. (AP Photo/The Dallas Morning News, Michael Ainsworth)

U.S. mayors gathered in Texas will decide whether to endorse a call for cities to use nature to fight the effects of climate change.

Attendees of the U.S. Conference of Mayors are set to vote Monday on a resolution encouraging cities to use natural solutions to "protect freshwater supplies, defend the nation's coastlines, maintain a healthy tree cover and protect ," sometimes by partnering with nonprofit organizations.

It's backed by Austin Mayor Lee Leffingwell, Houston Mayor Annise Parker and Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton.

Since the resolution "encourages" steps rather than mandating action, Leffingwell believes it will easily be approved since it quickly passed through the committee Friday.

EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy said the mayors could turn the debate into a discussion about economics, public safety and health.

© 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

Citation: US mayors to vote on climate change resolution (2014, June 23) retrieved 28 March 2024 from https://phys.org/news/2014-06-mayors-vote-climate-resolution.html
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