Leaders want to act locally on climate

City leaders from around the world declared at an environmental summit that they could no longer wait for national governments to reverse global warming and instead must find solutions on their own.

Mayors and leaders from more than 30 major cities are participating in the conference, hosted by New York Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and former President Clinton, to exchange ideas.

"We cannot sit around and watch our environment deteriorate and put this world in jeopardy," Bloomberg said. "The public wants action, and if you have a void, the mayors are going to fill that void."

Organizers say cities bear a significant responsibility because they generate 80% of heat-trapping greenhouse gases.