The UN Climate Summit at Bali has underscored the necessity of a much stronger commitment on the part of industrialized countries with respect to emission targets set by the expiring Kyoto Protocol. Also, industrializing economies such India and China need to be involved in the process, if emissions of greenhouse gases are to be reduced and global temperatures stabilized at acceptable levels by the end of the century. The new international regime starting in 2012 will be negotiated over the next two years, although Al Gore, Nobel and Oscar winner, is pushing for an acceleration of the process.

  In Bali, there was much talk about the importance of including cities in the actions and initiatives to contrast and adapt to climate change. This was highlighted by New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg in his intervention at the concluding session of the Bali Conference.

  More than half of the human population now lives in cities, which account for 75% of global energy consumption and 80% of greenhouse emissions. But cities are also the first victims of global warming, because they are highly vulnerable to climate effects. Think about the heat wave that in 2003 caused 35.000 deaths in Europe, mostly in urban areas, since the lack of green areas and the overwhelming presence of asphalt and concrete prevent the cooling down of air.

  The main areas of intervention for local administrations to cut emissions are: energy, mobility, transportation, environmental services, housing, green areas, public procurements, and urban development. Cities have a large role in planning and regulation, and in the management of activities releasing carbon in the atmosphere. An environmental policy integrated at the city level can yield a "double dividend", since it reduces both local and global emissions at the same time. London, for instance, has created a Climate Change Agency, pioneering efforts in this direction ahead of the national government.

  The creation of networks of cities to cooperate on emission policies is a promising development. The most important are: Cities for Climate Protection launched by ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability, which gathers 800 administrations in 30 countries, and the Climate Alliance, a network of 1,200 European local administrations. The US has lagged behind the EU, but is catching fast: the US Conference of Mayors Climate Protection Agreement, promoted by Seattle Mayor, saw 600 city mayors joining in July 2007. And a few months ago the C40 Climate Leadership Group, which groups the world's biggest cites, has signed an agreement with the Clinton Foundation on energy efficiency in urban environments. Climate programs have also been launched by other networks of cities such as Eurocities and Energie Cités. At the Bali Conference, these networks have signed a joint agreement to cut global emissions by 60-80% by 2050.

  On January 29, the European Commision has promoted an agreement between major cities: a Covenant of Mayor on Climate signed by the mayors of London, Milan, Helsinki, Munich, and other large cities, calling for binding commitments with respect to the targets of the Energy for a Changing World policy package set forth by the EU, which aims to reduce by 20% greenhouse emissions, to augment by 20% energy efficiency, and attain a 20% share of total energy produced from sustainable sources by 2020.