New York pledges to reduce greenhouse gas emissions

By Edith Honan

NEW YORK (Reuters) - New York City produced 58 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions in 2005, according to officials who promised on Tuesday to cut that by 30 percent by 2030 as the city tries to become a leader in the fight against global warming.

Contrary to the image of a dirty, smog-filled New York, the city's carbon emissions equaled only 1 percent of the national totals for 2005 and less than a third of the average U.S. level per capita, according to data released by the city.

At the same time, citywide emissions have increased by 8 percent over the last decade. If the trend continues, carbon emissions could rise by an additional 25 percent by 2030.

The data was released as part of a comprehensive inventory of greenhouse gas emissions in a global effort by local governments to reduce carbon emissions.

New York is one of 750 cities from around the world participating in the Local Governments for Sustainability campaign, and one of 240 American cities to complete such an inventory of carbon emissions.

Carbon emissions have risen sharply in the past century and many scientists see a connection between the increase in global average temperatures and a related increase in extreme weather, melting glaciers and other damage to the environment.

Last week, New York was one of a dozen states to prevail in a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that environmental officials have the power to regulate emissions that spur global warming.

New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg said New York will host a meeting in May of mayors from more than 20 large cities around the world to discuss ways to curb global warming.

"You can no longer deny the science and bury your head in the sand -- climate change is real, and by looking at where and how we are contributing to that problem, we can identify how to reduce our emissions and create a better future for our children and grandchildren," Bloomberg said.