The new climate pact recently approved by congress is actually a thinly veiled set of concessions for corporations that will actually hurt the environment more than protect it (start here for more information). The good news:

American cities and states are not waiting for the federal government either. They are moving forward with their own efforts to tackle climate change. At the Sundance Summit in Salt Lake City this month, mayors from 46 cities agreed to cut greenhouse gas emissions. And last month, the U.S. Conference of Mayors unanimously decided to require its member cities to attempt to meet or exceed the goals of the Kyoto Protocol. So far, 167 cities have signed on to enforce the Kyoto requirements. Seeing that Congress is slow to act, nearly 40 states have developed their own climate plans, and 18 states and the District of Columbia now require that a portion of their electricity be generated with renewable fuels rather than fossil fuels. (Duluth News Tribune)).