NEW YORK (AP) — New York’s City Council is proposing a package of bills to slash greenhouse gas emissions, take cars off the road and shrink the carbon footprint of city operations.
Council members announced the legislation on Friday, ahead of next week’s United Nations climate summit.
City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito said she hopes New York can serve as a model for cities across the world as they grapple with climate change.
A bill being introduced by Councilman Costa Constantinides would set a goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 80 percent from a 2005 baseline.
Constantinides said meeting the goal will force the city to be innovative and to create green jobs.
The legislative package includes measures designed to beef up energy-efficient building standards and to promote car sharing for city-owned vehicles.
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