Since we're unlikely to see any action from the feds on global warming any time soon, it is heartening to see that States and cities are taking global warming seriously and are beginning to take action and establish policies that reduce their production of greenhouse gases.

Congratulations to ICLEI, Redford, Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson, and Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels for putting this issue before the public - and all in a relatively short period of time.

Now, if we want to build on that momentum and actually get our cities and their governments to follow through on their commitments, we, the folks down here who are going to have actually make life style changes, pay the new taxes, and support these new policies, must become an active (and welcome) element in that process of change. The responsibility for making this a successful partnership - local government and its citizens - falls equally to both parties. We, the citizenry must get involved (we can't expect someone else to do it, if we won't do it ourselves) and our local governments must encourage and accept our participation in that process. A city can do that by establishing a citizen council on global warming and encouraging similar advisory groups in the business, religious and educational community. These advisory councils can look at energy consumption and renewables, water usage, waste production and disposal, purchasing, and more in their respective areas of responsibility. With the support of the citizenry, municipalities can be the real drivers of the type and degree of change that  may give us a shot at avoiding the worst impacts of global warming.