The City of Montreal unveiled the first in a series of plans for sustainable development on Thursday, saying it wants to reduce its greenhouse-gas emissions by 20 per cent over the next five years.

It said it planned to get tough on cutting greenhouse-gas emissions even though the city's territory accounts for 1.5 per cent of the island's total emissions.

Planners said the city will be able to save money and the environment by conserving energy in its buildings and using hybrid vehicles in its fleet.

Alan DeSousa, a member of the executive committee for sustainable development and economic development, said city workers have been asked to save energy by turning off lights, heating and air conditioning when there's no one in a room and to shut exterior windows.

DeSousa said he estimated the city would save $12.5 million a year in energy costs.

"What we're announcing today is what is the city prepared to do as an entity to make sure we can get there."

DeSousa said he is moving forward with the city's green plan even though the federal government no longer plans to meet its obligations under the Kyoto Protocol, the international treaty aimed at cutting greenhouse-gas emissions.

DeSousa said he can't wait any longer for other levels of government to take the lead.

"You know me well enough that I'm a very impatient individual. I want these things done yesterday. I will do everything I can to make sure these things happen, and in that context, we're working on many fronts."

The Kyoto Protocol was signed under a Liberal government and when it came into went into effect on Feb. 16, 2005, it had been ratified by 141 countries, including every major industrialized country — except the United States, Australia and Monaco.

However, after Stephen Harper and the Conservatives were elected, they indicated they were abandoning the specific emissions reduction targets of the Kyoto Protocol. They said the targets were unrealistic and blamed previous Liberal governments for not doing enough to make it possible to meet the targets.

When the federal Conservatives tabled their first budget in May 2006, it contained no mention of Kyoto. Instead, the budget repeated an earlier pledge by Harper to develop a "made-in-Canada" climate change program.

DeSousa said Montreal's Transit Commission is expected to unveil a long-term plan in the spring to cut its emissions.