氣候保護和綠色工作將會是2009年全美市長會議之重要議程。由超過1000個主要城市所組成而影響力非凡的全美市長會議1月19日於華盛頓結尾的會議將環保尖兵西雅圖市長尼可思（Greg Nickels）選為會議準總統。
尼可思於2005年提出全美市長氣候保護協定，承諾履行或超越京都協議書於國際間所制定的綠色氣體減低排放，也就是在1999年至2020年末達到7%的氣體排放減低。至今已有910位市長簽署此協定。
尼可思表示，「當我們的國家和都會區致力於降低二氧化碳排放，同時我們的決心將會為乾淨能源和綠色工作打開契機」。
1月17日市長們已發表第4次也就是最新的經濟復甦報告結果顯示，其中刺激經濟配套支持在能源、水和汙水基礎建設、公共運輸和鐵路改進等的綠色工作，將提供幾十萬人立即的工作機會。國內由779個城市所提出的專案可立即上路，並且於一至二年內完成。
在歷史性的總統就職前，由超過250個國內市長所組成的全美市長會議由總統邁阿密市長戴椰茲（Manny Diaz）所帶領的冬季會議，討論國家重點及歐巴馬所提出的一項數十億美元的「美國復甦與再投資計畫」（American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan）。
歐巴馬日前表示，「讓大家重新就業，於明天起減低我們對進口石油的依賴，倍增替代能源的生產量，翻修公共建築以確保省能。建造一個21世紀的經濟，我們須含納橫跨全國的承包商以創造工作機會來重建國內搖搖欲墜的道路、橋樑和校舍等」。
這些計劃包含公共和私人建築的能源翻新，針對地方建築物的電能生產量安裝太陽能板或風力渦輪發電機，部署新能源分配科技，如分佈式發電及區域供冷熱系統，提高節能並且發展系統以捕捉堆填區的甲烷以用發電。
市長們力勸新總統及國會制定一個在2050年達到國家排放減低80%的目標，這標準同時為多數科學家公認為要避免全球暖化最糟效應的必要標準。
市長們同時訴求國會和歐巴馬總統制定碳總量管理與立法以支持地方政府的措施，以降低溫室氣體排放。
Climate protection and green jobs will top the agenda for the nation's mayors in 2009. Climate champion Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels has been elected incoming president of the U.S. Conference of Mayors, an influential organization of more than 1,000 major cities, which today wrapped up its winter meeting in Washington.
Nickels launched the U.S. Conference of Mayors Climate Protection Agreement in 2005, pledging to meet or beat the greenhouse gas emission reduction goals of the international Kyoto Protocol - a seven percent reduction from 1990 levels by the end of 2012. To date, 910 mayors have signed the agreement.
"As our nation and metro areas work to reduce carbon emissions, our determination will open new opportunities for clean energy and green jobs," said Nickels.
The mayors Saturday released their fourth and latest economic recovery report, showing that an economic stimulus package supporting green jobs in energy, water and wastewater infrastructure, public transit and rail improvements could put hundreds of thousands of people to work immediately. Projects proposed by 779 cities across the country could start quickly and be completed within one or two years, the mayors report.
In the midst of the events surrounding this historic Presidential Inauguration, more than 250 of the nation's mayors, led by U.S. Conference of Mayors President Mayor Manny Diaz of Miami, Florida gathered for their winter meeting to discuss national priorities and Obama's proposed multi-billion dollar American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan.
Earlier this month Obama said, "To put people back to work today and reduce our dependence on foreign oil tomorrow, we will double renewable energy production and renovate public buildings to make them more energy efficient. To build a 21st century economy, we must engage contractors across the nation to create jobs rebuilding our crumbling roads, bridges, and schools."
These projects could include energy retrofits of public and private buildings in local areas, installation of solar panels or wind turbines for the production of electricity on local buildings, deployment of new energy distribution technologies - such as distributed generation or district heating and cooling systems - that increase energy efficiency, and development of systems to capture and generate power from methane at landfills.
The mayors are urging the new President and Congress to establish a national emissions reduction target of 80 percent by 2050, a level most scientists say is essential to avoid the worst effects of global warming.
The mayors want Congress and President Obama to enact carbon cap-and-trade legislation that supports local government initiatives and reduces greenhouse emissions.
作者
In my healing journey and learning to attain the breath awareness, I become aware of the reality that all the creatures of the world are breathing the same breath. Take action, here and now. From my physical being to the every corner of this out of balance's planet.
