Climate Mayors Drive Bold Climate Action in 2024
This year has been BIG for local climate action. Our organization and membership of visionary mayors have taken bold steps to combat the climate crisis. Climate Mayors cities have led the charge, deploying cutting-edge clean energy solutions, advancing comprehensive city-wide climate plans, and enhancing the quality of life for all residents. We’ve built strong momentum and are moving full speed ahead into 2025 to continue delivering results and driving climate ambition.
This year, our mayors spoke and gathered at a host of events including the U.S. Conference of Mayors, Aspen Climate Ideas, Climate Week NYC, and COP29 to engage in regional, national and international conversations to keep the needs of cities at the forefront of climate conversations. Climate Mayors were proud to rally around our shared mission of protecting cities and fostering effective collaboration across local, state, national, and global partnerships alongside U.S. climate leaders such as Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and Biden Administration Senior Advisor John Podesta.
We launched our new #Electrify50 commitment to accelerate the US electric vehicle transition. This commitment will save taxpayer dollars, improve public health, increase access to charging, and create clean energy jobs across the country. Climate Mayors also announced a formalized collaboration with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to help cities across the nation better prepare for and respond to the impacts of climate change.
To advance policies and solutions that reduce emissions and protect cities from climate impacts, our organization urged the current administration and Congressional lawmakers to take critical and immediate action. We called upon the Biden Administration to finalize the strongest possible standards for heavy-duty vehicles and advocated for Congress to pass a comprehensive clean emergency disaster relief bill. Climate Mayors also applauded the release of final guidance on elective pay for the Inflation Reduction Act’s clean energy tax credits, the EPA’s final emissions rules for vehicles, and the announcement of $7 billion for EPA’s Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund.
Following the Presidential election, Climate Mayors affirmed their unwavering commitment to accelerate local climate action and to defend the investments on the national and local level that have launched us on a trajectory toward a sustainable future. Regardless of federal action or inaction, Climate Mayors across the nation will continue to be pragmatic leaders and deliver programs that ensure our environment, communities, health, and economy all thrive. In 2025, we will double down on investments that will lower energy costs, make our air and water cleaner, and bolster resilience to climate disasters. Climate Mayors seeks to deepen regional partnerships to form a bulwark against efforts to roll back progress and expand collaboration with business leaders investing in America’s economic prosperity. Are you a local leader or organization looking to do the same? Join us in 2025 as we fight for the future Americans demand and deserve.