From Ann Arbor to Amsterdam, cities are finding clever ways to combat global warming. There’s a “world-wide movement by cities to rein in their runaway energy use,” according to the Wall Street Journal:

“Cities are embarking on all sorts of innovative programs to try to corral the amount of energy they consume. Chicago is planting rooftop gardens to cool down its municipal buildings. New York is working with a private company to harness the power of tidal currents in the city’s East River. Amsterdam is using cold lake water to help air-condition homes.

With energy costs skyrocketing and concerns about climate change mounting, municipal leaders in the US, Europe, India and China are all seeking ways to reduce their cities’ energy consumption and rely more on renewable sources of energy. The Journal gives a rundown of nine cities whose leaders are blazing a trail to a brighter future, from Ann Arbor’s switch to LED street lights to the Mumbai mandate that got all its residents in hot water–solar heated, that is.

For ideas on how you can conserve energy, takepart at earth911.org.

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