European Cities Pledge to Slash Greenhouse Gas Emissions.

VIENNA, Austria, May 9, 2006 (ENS) – An association of European cities linked in partnership with indigenous rainforest peoples has resolved to reduce their emissions of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide by 10 percent every five years as a long term strategy. By this means, they intend to cut 1990 levels of per capita greenhouse gas emissions in half by the year 2030.

The Climate Alliance of European Cities with Indigenous Rainforest Peoples is Europe’s largest city network dedicated to climate protection, with more than 1,300 member municipalities located in 17 European countries.

Close to 50 million European citizens live in member cities, which include Barcelona, Berlin, Luxembourg, Munich, The Hague, Venice, Vienna and Zurich.

To attain the long term climate stabilization goal agreed by the cities
individuals would have to cut their emissions to the level of 2.5
metric tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) equivalent per person per year.

While the cities declared this level to be "sustainable and equitable
worldwide," achieving it would mean big reductions in the burning of
fossil fuels such as coal, oil and gas, which are the sources of CO2
emissions.

In 1992, for instance, each person in France was responsible
for the emission of a little more than six metric tons of CO2
equivalent, in the United Kingdom the level was 9.8 metric tons per
capita, and in Belgium, the level was even higher at 10.1 metric tons
per capita.

Over the long term, Climate Alliance cities and municipalities aim to
reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by means of energy conservation,
energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy sources, particularly
in the fields of energy and transportation.

They also abstain from procuring tropical timber derived from
destructive logging, and help indigenous partners to conserve the
rainforests.

Lorenz stresses that the 2.5 metric ton per capita target,
while ambitious, is achievable if all international, national and local
decisionmakers work together.