City Council To Combat Climate Change

Ahead of next week's United Nations climate summit, New York's City Council is proposing a package of bills aimed at slashing greenhouse gas emissions, taking cars off the road and shrinking the carbon footprint of city operations.

Council members announced the legislation on Friday. “Climate change continues to pose a unique set of challenges to the physical, economic and social landscape of our city," said Council Member Donovan Richards, Chair of the Committee on Environmental Protection. 

Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito said she hopes New York can serve as a model for cities across the world as they grapple with climate change.

A bill being introduced by Councilman Costa Constantinides would set a goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 80 percent from 2005 levels. Constantinides said meeting the goal will force the city to be innovative and to create green jobs.

Other measures would beef up energy-efficient building standards and promote car sharing for city-owned vehicles.

With reports from the Associated Press