Oregon, Florida, Colorado.

   Ten years ago it was theory.  Today there is scientific evidence to show that human activity is producing heat-trapping gases that are causing the planet to warm up.  The United Nations-sponsored International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) chaired by World Bank chief scientist Robert Watson issued a report in March 2001 stating that "a warming trend has unquestionably begun." 

   The 1990s were the hottest decade on record.  A world-wide temperature increase of one percent over the last 100 years, which has already occurred, doesn't sound like much, but it took only a nine-degree temperature change to end the last Ice Age.  The IPCC report documents the impact of this small temperature rise on 420 physical processes, plants and animals on every continent. 

   A Time Magazine special report on April 9, 2001 devoted 17 pages to global warming, responding to George W. Bush's decision to abandon the Kyoto treaty, an international agreement to address climate change the United States signed in 1997.  The President acknowledges the seriousness of the issue but believes the agreement is flawed. 

   The Time report addresses the signs, possible consequences and actions that can be taken to alleviate global warming.  Despite foot dragging on the national level, states, local governments and some industries are taking action, according to the report. 

   Portland, Oregon, the first U.S. city to initiate a carbon dioxide reduction program, made changes such as synchronizing traffic lights, planting 75,000 acres of trees and buying low-carbon dioxide vehicles for the city's fleet.

   Since 1993 when the program began, mass transit ridership has increased 30 percent, passenger car commuting to downtown has fallen 15 percent and garbage from residences has been reduced 13 percent. 

   Miami-Date County, Florida was able to reduce greenhouse emissions by 900 
tons a year by simply establishing exclusive bus lanes. 

   In Fort Collins, Colorado, a fast-growing city on the Front Range, global warming issues are being addressed at the request of city manager John Fishbach.  The Hydrogen Task Force, formed in March 2001, is charged with researching possible uses of hydrogen as an alternative to fossil fuel for the city. 

   Task force members include representatives from the city's air quality board, natural resources advisory board and transportation board.  City employees from natural resources, fleets and utilities are represented.  Gary Schroeder, energy services engineer for the city, chairs the group. The task force is in a research phase, specifically looking into the use of either mobile or stationary fuel cells.  "Fuel cells are looking promising for use in city buses," Schroeder says.  In August, the task force will report their findings to the city manager who will decide on implementation. 

   "We're a progressive city," Schroeder says pointing to the overwhelming response by Fort Collins citizens to the wind energy program.  "We're looking ahead, anticipating a pilot, demonstration or educational project with hydrogen in the near future.  We're right on the cusp, moving from prototypes to commercialization, and Fort Collins will likely be an early player in these events."