Climate Mayors Announces 2025 Leadership Team Including Vice-Chairs and Sterring Committee Additions
January 6, 2025 – Today, Climate Mayors announced a new leadership team for 2025, reaffirming the organization’s steadfast commitment to local climate action. This team of mayors will aim to build on the climate progress made in cities, and support cities in maintaining momentum by delivering substantial economic, health, and resiliency benefits to communities nationwide.
With Mayor Justin M. Bibb of Cleveland Ohio concluding his term as Chair of the organization, Mayor Kate Gallego of Phoenix, Arizona will take over as Chair for the 2025 year. Having served as Vice-Chair this past year, Mayor Gallego will use this experience to lead the organization and bolster U.S. subnational leadership on climate action. Mayor Lauren McLean of Boise, Idaho and Mayor Andre Dickens of Atlanta, Georgia will serve as Vice-Chairs in the new Climate Mayors leadership team. Climate Mayors is also proud to welcome Mayor Shawyn Patterson-Howard of Mount Vernon, New York and Leirion Gaylor Baird of Lincoln, Nebraska as new members of our Steering Committee.
This past year, our member cities have felt first-hand the impacts of climate change as the U.S. experienced historic hurricanes, wildfires, floods, and heat events. Our leadership team understands that timely and local action is critical for building resilience against these natural disasters and protecting constituents. As we approach 2025, Climate Mayors also see significant opportunities to deliver economic growth and widespread health benefits for their communities through continued efforts to grow clean energy, deliver good-paying jobs, and reduce pollution. Our incoming Chair and Vice-Chairs alongside our Steering Committee members have been prime examples of effective and steadfast climate leadership, and are poised to continue leading efforts to build prosperous, sustainable, and resilient cities.
New Chair: Mayor Kate Gallego
Mayor Kate Gallego of Phoenix, Arizona has held office since 2019, serving as Vice-Chair of Climate Mayors since 2020 and Vice-Chair of C40 Cities since 2021. As a Vice-Chair, Mayor Gallego has proved instrumental in launching one of the organization’s first regional cohorts, the Western Water Security Network, that aims to implement solutions that reduce dependence on the strained Colorado River.
“I am deeply honored to lead Climate Mayors into its next chapter of climate action, which may just be its most important chapter yet,” Mayor Gallego said. “The effects of climate change are on our doorstep, and we must continue prioritizing the creation of resilient, safe, and sustainable communities where anyone can get ahead. Our leadership team will advance climate action from the local level while simultaneously advocating for the support of national leaders.”
New Vice-Chairs
Mayor Lauren McLean of Boise, Idaho
Mayor Lauren McLean of Boise, Idaho has served since 2020 and is beginning her second year as a Climate Mayors Vice-Chair. During her time as Mayor, she has advanced localized and strategic climate solutions and focused on delivering public health and economic results for her city. Boise has a goal of achieving 100% clean electricity for city government buildings by 2030 and to be a carbon neutral community by 2050. Since establishing its ambitious objectives in the Climate Action Roadmap, Boise has made significant strides, including powering its city airport and a water renewal facility with 100% renewable energy. To reduce emissions from the transportation sector, Mayor McLean has been working to mobilize a $3.2 million grant to expand EV charging stations. This funding will also support an apprenticeship program to support the workforce of the future. As she continues her tenure as Vice-Chair, Mayor McLean has identified the following priorities for 2025:
Leading the Climate, Affordability, & Prosperity and Communications Working Group to ensure cities can convey to constituents how climate initiatives are good for the local economy
Continue to advocate for funding opportunities for cities and local projects so that local leaders can utilize provisions and incentives to deliver results for their constituents
Partner with our members to be the voice for climate, both in the U.S. and internationally, in 2025 and beyond
“It has been an honor to serve as Vice Chair, and I look forward to continuing the important work of Climate Mayors in building more sustainable, prosperous, and resilient cities,” said Mayor McLean. “In Boise, we’ve witnessed firsthand how advancing clean energy solutions and smart initiatives not only reduces emissions but also creates economic opportunities and delivers widespread benefits for our community. It is crucial to persist in these efforts to address climate change effectively, ensuring that our cities thrive. Our members are committed to building on the momentum in 2025 to achieve our climate goals and targets.”
Mayor Andre Dickens of Atlanta, Georgia
Mayor Andre Dickens of Atlanta, Georgia has served since 2022 and is beginning his first term as a Climate Mayors Vice-Chair. As Mayor of Atlanta, he has renewed his city’s commitment to climate action and worked to incorporate environmental policy into every aspect of city plans. Mayor Dickens continues to drive Atlanta’s goal of achieving 100% clean energy for all by 2035 by accelerating fleet electrification and expanding EV charging infrastructure, reducing the energy burden on the most impacted households in Atlanta, and more. The Mayor has also established the community-led Climate Resilience Advisory Board to inform development of the City’s first Climate Resilience Action Plan and oversaw the expansion of the Solar Atlanta program to 38 municipal buildings which now includes the first of multiple solar installations planned at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport.
To make progress on these initiatives, he has codified the Mayor’s Office of Sustainability and Resilience and added the Chief Sustainability Officer to his cabinet. Atlanta has made significant progress on their climate goals, recently surpassing 40% progress toward the city’s goal of a 56% greenhouse gas emissions reduction by 2030 as part of its Climate Action Plan.
In his new role as Climate Mayors Vice-Chair, Mayor Dickens has outlined the following priorities for this year:
Advancing equity: Mayor Dickens has made the integration of equity and sustainability a central priority in his mayoral agenda. This commitment is reflected in initiatives such as the Moving Atlanta Forward infrastructure bond program.
Continuing to advocate for ambitious clean energy goals and fostering collaboration among mayors, with a focus on enhancing the daily lives of all city residents.
Sustain the climate momentum local leaders have generated and support greater collaboration with other mayoral organizations such as the African American Mayor’s Association to amplify local leaders' impact on climate action.
Leverage his leadership and expertise in public-private partnerships to advance demonstration projects and investment in sustainable infrastructure that moves us closer to achieving our climate and clean energy goals.
“Now is a critical time for amplifying local climate action and pushing our ambition, and I am proud to begin my tenure as Climate Mayors Vice-Chair to sustain this work and further drive cities’ leadership on climate,” said Mayor Andre Dickens. “In Atlanta, we have focused on progressing equitable, sustainable and impactful programs that deliver results that deliver for residents. Whether through increasing our tree canopy for cooler and greener neighborhoods or delivering lower energy bills and job opportunities for constituents, I look forward to collaborating with my fellow mayors to create a greener future for better, thriving communities.”
New Steering Committee Members
Mayor Shawyn Patterson-Howard of Mount Vernon, New York has served since 2019 and has worked to bring her city on a path to greater growth, resiliency, sustainability, and effective governance. She has championed climate and environmental action with a focus on delivering direct cost savings and health benefits to her constituents. The city passed a revised Tree Ordinance to restore and expand tree canopies in order to combat the urban heat island effect. To tackle environmental injustice, Mayor Patterson-Howard has collaborated with local and state governments to implement clean water and sanitation infrastructure as residents historically faced sewer challenges with little recourse.
“Our cities face a host of challenges, and climate is one that affects all areas of our constituents’ lives. By addressing climate change and environmental justice issues, we can deliver wide ranging benefits to our communities including reduced energy costs, healthier air, and more reliable public services,” said Mayor Shawyn Patterson-Howard. “In joining the Climate Mayors Steering Committee, I am looking forward to collaborating with fellow mayors who are implementing effective and impactful solutions for their constituents.”
Leirion Gaylor Baird was sworn in as the 52nd mayor of Lincoln, Nebraska in May 2019 and reelected in May 2023. As a signature piece of her agenda, Mayor Gaylor Baird launched the Resilient Lincoln initiative and commissioned the development of a Climate Action Plan – the first of its kind in the state of Nebraska. Through the plan, Lincoln is taking tangible steps to decarbonize their transportation system, create more economic opportunities, build a resilient local food system. She currently serves as Chair of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Local Government Advisory Committee and on the Board of Trustees of the U.S. Conference of Mayors.
"In Lincoln, we’re demonstrating that climate action drives both resilience and economic opportunity," said Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird. "I am honored to join the Climate Mayors Steering Committee and work alongside visionary leaders to advance bold, innovative solutions that make life better for the people we serve."
Climate Mayors Steering Committee Members:
We celebrate the following members who will be part of our steering committee in 2025 and will work to advance Climate Mayors mission to drive local climate action:
Tim Keller, Albuquerque, NM; Andre Dickens, Atlanta, GA; Michael P. Cahill, Beverly, MA; Lauren McLean, Boise, ID; Michelle Wu, Boston, MA; Justin Bibb, Cleveland, OH; Barbara Buffalloe, Columbia, MO; Daniel Rickenmann, Columbia, SC; Eric Johnson, Dallas, TX; Jeffrey Mims, Dayton, OH; Jim Hovland, Edina, MN; Indya Kincannon, Knoxville, TN; Leirion Gaylor Baird, Lincoln, NE; Frank Scott, Little Rock, AR; Karen Bass, Los Angeles, CA; Satya Rhodes-Conway, Madison, WI; Jacob Frey, Minneapolis, MN; Shawyn Patterson-Howard, Mount Vernon, NY; LaToya Cantrell, New Orleans, LA; Buddy Dyer, Orlando, FL; Kate Gallego, Phoenix, AZ; Ed Gainey, Pittsburgh, PA; Angela Birney, Redmond, WA; Ron Nirenberg, San Antonio, TX; Caroline Simmons, Stamford, CT; Jane Castor, Tampa, FL; Regina Romero, Tucson, AZ; and Thomas Roach, White Plains, NY.