PRESS RELEASE: Mayors Highlight Programs in their Cities that Lower Costs, Boost Local Economies, and Fight Climate Change
Local leaders showcase how investments in clean energy and infrastructure programs are lowering costs for Americans, supporting local businesses, and building a future-ready workforce
Washington, D.C. (March 19, 2025) – While the federal government cuts programs and policies that lower costs for working people and build a healthier and safer future, U.S. mayors of the Mayoral Climate, Affordability and Prosperity Working Group, led by Climate Mayors, C40 Cities, and the Urban Sustainability Directors Network (USDN), are advancing efforts to invest in critical infrastructure projects that are boosting local economies while tackling the impacts of climate change. Mayors Lauren McLean of Boise, ID, Andy Schor of Lansing, MI, Brandon Johnson of Chicago, IL, Indya Kincannon of Knoxville, TN, and Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird of Lincoln, NE hosted a press call highlighting how programs in their cities are reducing costs for families and businesses, creating good-paying jobs, and reducing pollution that is accelerating climate change.
The climate crisis is a cost of living crisis. From 2017 to 2023, insurance premiums rose by 34% across the country, partly because of extreme weather. Longer and hotter summers caused cooling costs to jump by nearly 9% in just one year, to a national average of more than $700 a month. By tackling rising energy, food, and housing costs through green policy initiatives, U.S. Mayors are making sure families have affordable energy options, food on the table, more money in their pockets, and job opportunities in a changing global economy.
“Increasing our tree canopy has created, in part, dynamic long-term solutions to challenges that Boise faces,” says Mayor Lauren McLean. “It’s through these community-driven solutions that our residents may be safe, our economy resilient, and our city welcoming for years to come.”
“Lansing has been a leader in Michigan to ensure a healthier future for our residents. I’m proud to have hired the city’s first Sustainability Manager and appointed a Sustainability Task Force. Together, they created action plans and a tree canopy report to help guide our efforts. Lansing is also home to a brand new LG Energy Solution battery cell plant that will employ over a thousand workers and produce the technology needed to power the vehicles and products of the future,” said Lansing Mayor Andy Schor.
"Chicago is steadfastly committed to bold climate action that generates benefits for our residents and communities," said Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson. "Through initiatives like Green Homes Chicago, Green Social Housing, and the Climate Infrastructure Fund, we're working to reduce energy costs for Chicagoans while creating new economic opportunities within the green economy. As we move forward, we will continue working to advance economic prosperity for all Chicagoans."
“Our urban forestry project is enhancing the quality of life for all Knoxville residents, creating job opportunities for local landscapers and helping combat the effects of climate change,” said City of Knoxville Mayor Indya Kincannon. “We’re taking a community-wide approach through extensive partnerships with Trees Knoxville and other organizations. The City’s Urban Forestry Division, contractors and volunteers have planted 1,300 trees and increased education and certification opportunities.”
“Lincoln’s Future-Ready Workforce Initiative equips our residents with skills needed for high-demand careers that support economic growth and long-term community resilience. By investing in training opportunities that align with evolving industry needs, we are helping to create stable, high-wage jobs while ensuring our workforce is prepared for careers that will power our city’s future,” said Lincoln Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird.
“Seattle is focusing on creating high-paying local jobs at every skill level, while reducing climate pollution and making our buildings, transit, and food production more efficient. We know that climate change is here and happening now, so we’re equally focused on building community resilience and helping neighbors prepare for extreme weather events. Every time we install heat pumps, that also air condition, into homes at no or low costs, develop green spaces for cleaner air and shade, and make infrastructure updates for long-term sustainability, we’re expanding our climate workforce and increasing affordability and prosperity for residents,” said Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell.
These programs that local leaders are advancing are already delivering benefits to their constituents. By sharing best practices and information about steps their cities are taking, members of the working group will continue efforts to advance these critical projects even as cities face the threat of broken federal funding commitments.
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About Climate Mayors
Climate Mayors is a bipartisan network of nearly 350 mayors, demonstrating climate leadership through meaningful actions in their communities since 2014. Representing 46 states and nearly 60 million Americans, Climate Mayors reflects U.S. cities’ commitment to climate progress. For more information, visit our website and follow Climate Mayors on X, Bluesky, and LinkedIn.
Media Contact: climatemayors@fgsglobal.com
About C40 Cities
C40 is a global network of nearly 100 mayors of the world’s leading cities working to confront the climate crisis. Mayors of C40 cities employ inclusive, science-based, and collaborative approaches to cut their fair share of emissions in half by 2030, help the world limit global heating to 1.5°C, and build healthy, equitable, and resilient communities.
About the Urban Sustainability Directors Network
The Urban Sustainability Directors Network (USDN) is a peer-to-peer network of over 3,000 local government professionals from 330 communities across the United States and Canada. USDN strives to create equitable, resilient, and sustainable communities by advancing the field of local government sustainability and equipping practitioners to be catalysts of transformative change.