"We're focused on action and tools," said Michelle Wyman, welcoming the local leaders to the meeting.

Her group, the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives, helped organize the "Sundance Summit: A Mayors' Gathering on Climate Protection." The event, taking place in downtown Salt Lake City and at the Sundance resort in Utah County, is co-hosted by Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson and actor/activist Robert Redford.

Many of the 45, hand-picked participants wondered aloud, "Why me?" Wyman noted initiatives in their communities were helping to reduce the vehicle, energy and industrial emissions causing the Earth's climate to warm at a dangerously rapid pace. They have experiences to share and can learn from others, she said.

Anderson said mayors can play an important role in helping cut these "greenhouse gases," and they should. Not only can they make municipal facilities more energy-efficient, but they can also educate their communities about cutting emissions.

"The leadership sometimes has to be found at the grass-roots level," he said. Anderson reminded the group how similar leadership helped solve another environmental crisis: the "ozone hole."

Backers of the 1987 Montreal Protocol agreed to eliminate refrigerant and cosmetic chemicals called CFCs. Their action plan helped decrease erosion of the Earth's middle atmosphere, which absorbs dangerous radiation from the sun.

On Monday, the group is set to hear from New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, who served as U.S. Energy Secretary during the Clinton administration. They also will hear an update on climate-change science, learn about potential impacts to their communities and hear from mayors who have successfully cut greenhouse gases. The meeting continues through Tuesday.

Utah Gov. John Huntsman attended an opening reception at the Salt Lake City-County Building. Although he will not attend the workshops because of a trade trip to Mexico that begins Monday, he praised its "best practices" approach.

"I think it's something we can all take lessons from," said Huntsman.

Sadhu Johnston, commissioner of environment for Chicago, said he looked forward to showing the group the benefits his "Rust Belt" city has seen from greening itself. Taxpayers have saved millions of dollars, the quality of life for residents has improved and the emissions that contribute to climate change have declined.

"One reason [Chicago Mayor Richard Daley is attending] is to learn what other places are doing," Johnston said. "The other reason is to show what we're doing, share some of the successes and some of the challenges we've faced."

The summit is exclusive. Only mayors who were invited can attend. Besides Anderson, the only Utah mayor at the event is Salt Lake County Mayor Peter Corroon.

fahys@sltrib.com