Mayors' climate conference wraps up

After two days of inspirational speeches and praise for programs to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the close of the U.S. Conference of Mayors offered a reality check.

The Seattle event, which drew more than 100 mayors and focused on the challenges of climate change, wrapped up with a congressional field hearing hosted by Rep. Jay Inslee, D-Wash., and attended by four other congressmen -- two Republicans and two Democrats.

In his first words to the mayors, Rep. James Sensenbrenner, R-Wis., made clear his deep reservations about taking action on cutting emissions.

He said he was present for the negotiations that resulted in the international Kyoto Protocol, which the United States has not ratified. It was clear that the greenhouse gas-reducing agreement would lead to "economic sacrifices that weren't justified then or now," he said.

Sensenbrenner said he opposed requirements to reduce carbon dioxide that were not matched by China and India, fearing that U.S. jobs would be lost.

Earlier in the meeting, mayors, former President Clinton and former Vice President Al Gore gave speeches encouraging American innovation in developing a green economy of clean energy and improved efficiency.

The mayors asked the congressmen Friday for money and legislation that would help their efforts to reduce greenhouse gases. They want the creation of an Energy and Environment Block Grant that would give them money to spend on improving energy efficiency and transportation, and encouraging development of new climate-friendly technologies.

New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg went further in a lunchtime address in which he proposed a national "pollution pricing" plan that envisions taxing companies directly for the greenhouse gases they release.

"If you really want to reduce carbon emissions, tax carbon at the source, which would mean at the mine head, at the oil well, whatever," said Bloomberg, a potential independent presidential candidate.

The money raised could be used to reduce payroll taxes or invest in new environmental technologies, such as wind power and fuel cells, he said. He envisions a fee of $15 for every ton of greenhouse gas companies emit. It would be "revenue-neutral," meaning that the proposal includes a tax cut that would return $500 a year to the average taxpayer.

Bloomberg also said another carbon-reduction approach, known as cap-and-trade, which many Democratic candidates have endorsed, is flawed and open to abuse. Bloomberg was applauded by environmentalists for addressing the issue, but many said a carbon tax would be a heavy lift in Congress.