Kyoto limits: Seattle shows how to do it

For a long time opponents of the Kyoto Protocol have complained that it sets unreasonable limits that will hurt the economy. But one American city has actually achieved the Kyoto goals.

"Seattle has exceeded its immediate goal to curb global warming, cutting greenhouse gas emissions to 8 percent below 1990 levels," the Seattle Post-Intelligencer reported this week.

This is timely to note because, starting Thursday, "more than 100 mayors will visit Seattle for a two-day national conference on how local leaders can curb global warming in their own communities and push for federal action. Former President Clinton is expected to give a keynote address and Al Gore will speak via satellite," the Seattle newspaper reported.

A city study, released Monday, measured the "carbon footprint" of the entire city, "from electricity used to power homes to tailpipe emissions to pollution from airplane trips that residents take," the newspaper reported.

"Most gains from 1990 to 2005 came from cutting pollution associated with residential, commercial and industrial energy use, the study found," according to the paper. "Roughly 60 percent of the reduction -- 350,000 fewer tons of carbon dioxide -- came from changes at Seattle City Light, which has worked to become "carbon neutral" by offsetting whatever greenhouse gases it creates."

In part, the utility achieved that goal with "accelerated efforts to boost conservation and expand its use of renewable energy."

But now here's the catch: "Greenhouse gas emissions from transportation -- Seattle's largest source -- increased by 3 percent over the 15-year period. Pollution from cars, trucks, buses, boats and trains all increased," the paper reported. "Because no more gains can be achieved by greening the city's electric grid, the next big improvements will have to come from getting people out of their cars and conserving natural gas, officials said."

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--Craig Pittman