WASHINGTON, Nov. 27 /PRNewswire/ -- Representing mayors in the United States, U.S. Conference of Mayors Vice President Burnsville (MN) Mayor Elizabeth Kautz today joined with mayors of the largest cities in Europe to present a mutual appeal to the international community on climate change. The Stockholm Appeal on Climate Change expresses the mayors' desire for world leaders to reach a climate change agreement at the COP 15 meeting in Copenhagen.

The Stockholm Appeal was signed earlier this year by U.S. Conference of Mayors President Seattle (WA) Mayor Greg Nickels, U.S. Conference of Mayors CEO and Executive Director Tom Cochran, Stockholm Mayor Sten Nordin, and Mayor of The Hague EUROCITIES President Jozias von Aartsen.

The Appeal was presented to the representatives of the Swedish Presidency of the European Union, as well as the Obama Administration by Mayor Kautz and Mayor Nordin.

"U.S. mayors proudly stand with our European counterparts in asking international recognition of the role of local leaders in climate protection. At the forefront of creative strategies, U.S. mayors have forced our national government to act to combat climate change. To date, over 1,000 mayors have signed the USCM climate protection agreement pledging to meet or beat Kyoto goals. Mayoral leadership is a major impetus in climate protection," said Mayor Nickels.

"We thank Conference President Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels for his leadership on this issue. The nation's mayors know that a successful plan in this country for reducing our energy consumption and promoting greater energy independence begins in cities and other local communities, and we are leading by example in the fight against global warming," said Mayor Kautz.

"We know it is possible to combine economic growth with strong environmental measures. Our cities are putting into practice many innovative and effective strategies to protect the environment. With our strength, knowledge, experience and successes at the local level, the local governments of our cities play a crucial role in climate protection. Our citizens and cities will help implement the agreement signed by government officials at COP 15," said Mayor Nordin, who initiated cooperation between the EUROCITIES mayors and the USCM.

The Mayor of Stockholm went on to explain that the Appeal aspires to serve as further incentive to for the heads of state at COP 15 to reach an agreement. "With this Stockholm Appeal on Climate Change, we urge the decision-makers at COP 15 to sign the agreement in December, and to use this opportunity for real change. We need the legislation and economic means to put words into action."

"The battle against Climate change will be won or lost in the cities of Europe, where 80 percent of European citizens live. City governments are best placed to find local solutions to this global challenge. Not only are cities leading by example, but also they are closest to the citizens and businesses that need to use our planet's resources more efficiently," said Mayor Jozias von Aartsen.

The Appeal refers to the EUROCITIES Declaration on Climate Change and the U.S. Conference of Mayors' Climate Protection Agreement expressing the common position of local governments from all continents.

About the U.S. Conference of Mayors:

The U.S. Conference of Mayors is the official nonpartisan organization of cities with populations of 30,000 or more. There are 1,139 such cities in the country today, each represented in the Conference by its chief elected official, the Mayor.

More About The U.S. Conference of Mayors Climate Protection Agreement:

http://www.usmayors.org/climateprotection/agreement.htm

SOURCE U.S. Conference of Mayors