United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon recently told a group of U.S. mayors that they play a crucial part in developing green energy strategies on a local level, reports United Press International (UPI).

According to the news source, Ban Ki-moon, who hails from South Korea, told the delegates at the U.S. Conference of Mayors in Baltimore that urban areas cause approximately 60 percent of carbon dioxide emissions around the world, meaning they need to step up to face the energy challenges.

The Secretary-General explained that cities that were taking the initiative to provide new energy efficient solutions to reduce emissions would have a positive impact on the world's energy future.

"For me the message is clear, the road to future peace and progress runs through the world's cities and towns," he told the mayors.

The news source reports that urban areas in the U.S. are particularly crucial because they are expected to be responsible for 94 percent of the country's economic growth over the next 20 years.

According to the Natural Resources Defense Council, the mayors of Houston, Texas, and Evanston, Illinois, received top recognition at the 2011 Mayors' Climate Protection Awards, which also took place in Baltimore.