President Trump may be quitting the Paris accord on climate change — but forcing the rest of the nation to go along with him is proving more of a challenge.
News and Updates
Smart Cities World: Furthering the role of local leadership in US climate action
Kate Wright, executive director of Climate Mayors, details the unique role of mayors in furthering urban climate action, explaining how communication can bring them closer to communities to make the most of unprecedented federal funding.
Smart Cities Dive: On clean energy tax credits, mayors want clearer federal guidance
But direct pay is still new terrain for localities. In June, the Treasury Department and Internal Revenue Service proposed guidance to help eligible entities understand the scope and eligibility requirements of the IRA provisions. The Climate Mayors’ letter was submitted during the public comment period on this proposed guidance, although cities have been thinking about how they can use direct payments since the IRA was enacted last year, said the organization’s policy director, Meghan Pazik.
“The overall top line of the letter was ‘Try to make the guidance as simple as possible for cities but also these now eligible entities,’” Pazik said.
In the letter, the mayors repeatedly noted their appreciation of the incentives and proposed guidance. The letter acknowledges that the Treasury, in particular, “faces an immense challenge in rolling out a program that is so new to the agency so quickly” while complying with various requirements and nuances.
But the letter is also clear about some of the challenges localities face in using the incentives. “In addition to the feedback and comments we have provided, it is critical that the Administration understands the limited capacity of localities and the need for as much clarification and specificity as possible when it comes to eligible projects, eligible entities, and the process to receive elective payments,” the letter says.
Smart Cities World: City climate investments: a year of US urban climate action
In an overview of climate action progress in the 12 months since the Inflation Reduction Act was passed into law, Climate Mayors, C40 and USDN reflect on how federal funding has progressed urban climate action.
Smart Cities World: US mayors sign letter to “turbocharge” local climate action
More than 50 US mayors have signed a letter to the Department of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service (Treasury) laying out a set of recommendations regarding a new programme that will allow cities to benefit from clean energy tax credits and help them “turbocharge” local climate action.
C-Span: Satya Rhodes-Conway on the Inflation Reduction Act and Investments in Cities
More than 50 US mayors have signed a letter to the Department of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service (Treasury) laying out a set of recommendations regarding a new programme that will allow cities to benefit from clean energy tax credits and help them “turbocharge” local climate action.
Utility Dive: Booming EV sales amp up the pressure on cities and companies to meet charging demand
City leaders are “very much thinking about how to equitably deploy” charging infrastructure in low- and medium-income areas, said Climate Mayors’ policy director, Meghan Pazik, in an interview. She added that many cities are already working to deploy EV charging stations and electrify their municipal vehicle fleets.
Pazik also pointed out that the newly proposed EPA standards will help cities accelerate their climate action plans and meet their climate goals. “Cities are just trying to think through what makes sense for their city,” she said.
Cap Times: Madison Mayor Rhodes-Conway to serve as chair of U.S. Climate Mayors
Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway is the new chair of the U.S. Climate Mayors, a bipartisan network of over 500 mayors across the country committed to climate leadership in their respective cities, the group announced Wednesday.
Rhodes-Conway is the first female leader of Climate Mayors, a group founded in 2014 aimed at creating local climate leadership and building partnerships for federal and global climate action. Hundreds of members have signed the Climate Mayors letters committing to the Paris Agreement and calling on Congress to invest in a green and equitable economic recovery.
Rhodes-Conway described the group as “small but mighty.” But in order to meet the challenges of climate change, she would like to see Climate Mayors grow and tell its stories of action.
“Climate is the defining issue of our time,” Rhodes-Conway said at a Wednesday press conference. “This is a critical time for climate action in cities. The federal government is making unprecedented investments in climate action and, as we all know, cities have long been leaders in actually taking action on climate on the ground.”
Governing: Guide to Help Cities Make the Most of Billions in Climate Funds
Written by the Climate Mayors and C40 Cities, it will help local governments take advantage of the Inflation Reduction Act’s historic financial support for climate action.
Texas Tribune: Watch: “It’s getting worse.” Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner discusses the fight against climate change.
Turner was named chair of the Climate Mayors coalition in January. At a Texas Tribune event Thursday, he discussed preparing cities for climate emergencies.
Nashua Telegraph: NH mayors following Donchess’ lead in joining climate initiative
CONCORD — More cities in New Hampshire are joining the effort to combat climate change, following the lead of Nashua’s Mayor Jim Donchess in signing up to be part of the Climate Mayors initiative.
Bloomberg City Lab: Can Cities Actually Meet the Paris Commitments on Their Own?
Think of the Paris climate accord as a delicate scale. Every nation works to meet carefully co-determined carbon cuts, holding one another accountable towards the utterly un-simple goal of limiting catastrophic global warming. By withdrawing the U.S., President Trump has lifted a critical weight from one end of this scale. How and whether it can right itself is an open question.
Washington Post: D.C. and Virginia, bucking Trump, pledge to honor Paris climate pact
The District and Virginia have joined a growing number of cities and states whose leaders are vowing to uphold the goals of the Paris climate agreement, despite President Trump’s announcement last week that the United States will withdraw from the accord.
Tennessean: Tennessee mayors support Paris accord, despite Trump decision
The mayors of Tennessee's four largest cities aren't giving up the fight to combat climate change, even after President Donald Trump announced that the U.S. would pull out of the Paris climate agreement.
WBIR: Rogero joins 'Climate Mayors' still supporting Paris agreement
Knoxville Mayor Madeline Rogero is among dozens of mayors across the country committing to upholding the Paris Climate Accord despite President Donald Trump's decision to withdraw from the agreement.
Evanston Now: Hagerty snubs Trump’s climate move
Despite President Donald Trump’s rejection yesterday of the Paris climate accord, Evanston Mayor Steve Hagerty declared that the city will not renege on its pledge.
KUTV: Salt Lake City Mayor commits to uphold climate agreement
(KUTV) Salt Lake City Mayor Jackie Biskupski announced Salt Lake City's continuing commitment to uphold the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement after Trump's withdrawal.
Bloomberg: Cities Shop for $10 Billion of Electric Cars to Defy Trump
Dozens of U.S. cities are willing to buy $10 billion of electric cars and trucks to show skeptical automakers there’s demand for low-emission vehicles, just as President Donald Trump seeks to review pollution standards the industry opposes.