Copenhagen a better role model than climate summit

Copenhagen has a world famous bicycle and transit system
  - Photo by Mikael Colville-Andersen

It is difficult  to miss the irony of a mediocre climate deal being forged in the stellar, environmental metropolis of Copenhagen.

The leaders and chief negotiators of 193 nations arrived at the climate summit with good intentions, but left with feelings ranging from frustration to outright anger.  

The ire of African and other third world nations was palpable, as in the case of Sudan’s negotiator Lumumba Stanislaus Di-Aping, who compared the consequences of global warming in Africa to the incinerators of the Holocaust.

With all the political drama, disagreement and accusations of failed leadership, many seem to have missed the real lesson of Copenhagen. The relatively simple method of modifying our behavior and infrastructure to combat human induced climate change is hard to miss in the city of Copenhagen. Perhaps a simple walk outside the negotiation halls might have helped inspire leaders to agree to greater reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.

Copenhagen has led the way in energy efficiency, sustainable transport, and overall livability.  The city's bicycle system is a model of sustainability, with nearly 40% of commuters bicycling 1.2 million kilometers (745,645 miles) each day.  City officials hope to boost that percentage to 50 by 2015, which would reduce the city's CO2 emissions by a further 80,000 tons per year.  With the planned construction of a hub and spoke bicycle commuter highway system throughout the metro area, Copenhagen seems likely to meet their goal.  

The Copenhagen Climate Summit for Mayors was held simultaneously with the world climate summit.  The slogan of the mayor's summit, "Cities act," highlights the cruitial role cities play in mitigating climate change.  Copenhagen's leadership in sustainable urban design makes it a role model for cities worldwide.  While world leaders struggle to create a meaningful agreement on combating global warming, cities need not wait for heads of state, and have the opportunity to follow Copenhagen's lead now.  Urban areas are responsible for 80% of the world's greenhouse gas emissions, therefore municipal governments can have a measured global impact with local policy.