When first introduced, the Climate Protection Agreement, signed by 600 U.S. Mayors, received high praise and got much attention from the national media. But an article in The Voice of San Diego now questions whether the agreement has had any effect in cities, at least in the San Diego region.

But in the time since local mayors made their pledges, few have followed through with concrete action that will guarantee their city's residents will emit fewer greenhouse gases in 2012 than they did in 1990.

In San Diego and Chula Vista, government has cut its own emissions generated in city facilities and by municipal car fleets. But those represent a small fraction of the citywide total.

Other cities that have signed on to the pledge have taken concrete steps to reduce emissions. New York City required its cab fleet to use hybrid cars. San Francisco has proposed implementing a city-wide tax on carbon emissions. The Los Angeles Water and Power Department agreed to exceed state mandates and get 35 percent of its electricity from renewable sources by 2020.

But in some local cities, signing the agreement has almost become an afterthought. Vista Mayor Morris Vance said he vaguely remembered signing it. He said he asked city staff to "come back with some recommendations," though that hasn't happened.

"I remember at the time I thought it was a good idea," Vance said.

In Imperial Beach, Mayor Jim Janney said his city hadn't followed up with any specific action, either. "It's not like we've ignored it completely," he said, "but we haven't pushed real hard."

Read the full story here.

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