Photo: President Clinton (center) announces the Clinton Climate Initiative at UCLA. He was joined by (from left) Mayor Ken Livingstone of London, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa of Los Angeles, British Prime Minister Tony Blair, and Mayor Gavin Newsom of San Francisco. (Source: Dan Avila for the Clinton Foundation)

“It no longer makes sense for us to debate whether or not the earth is warming at an alarming rate, and it doesn’t make sense for us to sit back and wait for others to act,” said President Clinton. “The fate of the planet that our children and grandchildren will inherit is in our hands, and it is our responsibility to do something about this crisis.”

Urban areas are responsible for over 75% of all greenhouse gas emissions in the world. The Institute for Transportation and Development Policy (ITDP) will partner with the Clinton Foundation and local authorities in developing country cities to implement solutions that reduce greenhouse gas emissions while addressing severe traffic congestion and other problems.

“We’re very pleased to have ITDP on board as a partner because of their experience with implementing transportation projects in developing world cities that provide tangible benefits for the environment and for people,” President Clinton added.

During the next 20 years, it’s estimated that greenhouse gas emissions will grow three times faster in developing countries than in the U.S., Europe, and Japan.

“ITDP commends President Clinton on this new initiative,” said Walter Hook, ITDP’s executive director. “Based on the enormous respect that developing country leaders have for President Clinton, we envision that the Clinton Climate Initiative will encourage mayors to take bold measures to reduce carbon emissions.”

“This partnership will strengthen the technical assistance that ITDP provides to mayors in the developing world who are looking for high quality transportation that both improves the quality of life of their cities and combats the threat of climate change.”

Mayor Ken Livingstone of London, British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa of Los Angeles, and Mayor Gavin Newsom of San Francisco joined President Clinton at UCLA in announcing the Clinton Climate Initiative.

The cities that will participate in the Initiative are part of the Large Cities Climate Leadership Group, an organization convened by Mayor Livingstone and comprised of most of the largest cities in the world that have pledged to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.