Climate Mayors Hosts Houston Mayor Turner, San Antonio Mayor Nirenberg, and Austin Mayor Steve Adler for Dialogue About a Sustainable and Just Economic Recovery

The livestream panel was the second in the Climate Mayors National Dialogue on Green and Equitable Recovery, an event series running through the fall with leaders in different regions across the U.S.

Watch the full discussion HERE.

September 2, 2020 – Today, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner, Austin Mayor Steve Adler, and San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg participated in a panel discussion as part of the Climate Mayors National Dialogue on Green and Equitable Recovery. The event convened like-minded institutions, partners, and policy makers for a discussion about successful climate initiatives in Texas and ways that the panelists have collaborated to advance climate action both locally and nationally. Today’s conversation was the second in a Climate Mayors event series advocating for national leadership to prioritize recovery policies that are environmentally sustainable and socially just in the time of COVID-19. It was moderated by journalist Evan Smith, CEO and co-founder of The Texas Tribune.

“Now more than ever, mayors across the country are prioritizing a transition to a more sustainable, equitable and resilient economy — it is time our federal government do the same,” said Climate Mayors Co-Chair Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner. “Houston has seen firsthand how human-induced crises, like climate change and the worsening COVID-19 pandemic, can devastate communities and disproportionately harm our most vulnerable populations. With a sustainable recovery, we can confront environmental injustice, protect our communities, and pull our country out of the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. For the future of Texas, we must meet this moment and invest in a sustainable future, and I’m proud to be in great company with my fellow Texan mayors who are doing just that.”

“Climate change is perhaps the defining challenge of our time. We must meet this challenge in ways that reflect the immediacy and extent of the crisis,” said Climate Mayors Steering Committee member Austin Mayor Steve Adler. “This is most true as it impacts our communities of color. They face disparities generally — and ones uniquely associated with climate change. We will use every tool we have to fight at the nexus of systemic inequities and climate change."

“As Mayor of the 7th largest city in the nation, I am committed to ensuring the health and well-being of our residents. Being proactive about climate change in Texas means that we consider how extreme heat and severe storms affect our economy, infrastructure, workforce, and the families who call San Antonio home,” said Climate Mayors Steering Committee member San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg. “This is particularly important now while we are faced with addressing COVID-19, a recession, and systemic racism, our recovery must support our efforts to address the unfolding climate crisis. At the local level, we are proactively implementing policies, programs, and projects and embracing new technology to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions to reach carbon neutrality by 2050. We are focused on reducing energy and transportation consumption, advancing the circular economy, and promoting biodiversity and healthy ecosystems. So that our residents feel empowered to participate in the conversation, we have established climate advisory committees and a Mayor’s Youth Engagement Council for Climate Initiatives. Hearing all voices and perspectives is essential for a just, equitable and green recovery.”

Later events in the Climate Mayors series will highlight policies and initiatives undertaken by climate leaders in the Great Lakes and Ohio Valley regions, as well as a nationally-focused discussion in October. Mayors and their partners will highlight how environmental initiatives can help stimulate local economies, create jobs, improve public health, and reduce carbon emissions in the wake of COVID-19. They will also discuss the ways that their sustainability policies prioritize frontline communities and communities of color, who are more likely to be affected by pollution and the negative impacts of climate change. “It’s become increasingly clear that climate change isn’t just an environmental issue — it is intrinsically tied to our public health, our economies, our national security, our housing, and our infrastructure,” said James Ritchotte, Director of Climate Mayors. “As seen by the recent wildfires in California and the devastation caused by Hurricane Laura in the Gulf, climate change is already here. In Texas and around the country, mayors are committed to climate-focused solutions that create good-paying jobs while prioritizing public health and racial justice. Houston, Austin and San Antonio have served as examples of climate leadership, and they’ll continue to lead the way in building an economy that is better than the one we leave behind.”

The first event in the series occurred July 23 and included Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, Miami Mayor Francis Suarez, Columbia Mayor Stephen Benjamin, and US Representative Kathy Castor, Chair of the Select Committee on the Climate Crisis. Watch the first event in the series here.

For more Information on upcoming events in Climate Mayors National Dialogue on Green and Equitable Recovery, please visit www.climatemayors.org.

About Climate Mayors: Representing over 74 million Americans from 48 states, Climate Mayors is a peer-to-peer network of 464 U.S. city mayors who have committed to fighting climate change. Originally founded in 2014, the network’s ranks swelled to almost 400 mayors in response to the Trump administration’s withdrawal from the Paris Agreement. Climate Mayors commit to taking ambitious action to meet each of their cities’ current climate goals, while working together towards achieving our national Paris targets. Climate Mayors is founded and Chaired by Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, and Co-Chaired by Mayors Sylvester Turner (Houston) and Martin J. Walsh (Boston). For more information, visit www.climatemayors.org and follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Media Contact: Melody Meyer, mmeyer@bpimedia.com; Grace Hemming, ghemming@bpimedia.com

Orlando Mayor Dyer, Miami Mayor Suarez, Columbia Mayor Benjamin and US Rep. Castor Speak About a Sustainable and Just Economic Recovery

The livestream panel was the first in the Climate Mayors National Dialogue on Green and Equitable Recovery, an event series running through the fall with leaders in different regions across the U.S.

Watch the full panel discussion.

July 23, 2020 – Today, Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, Miami Mayor Francis Suarez, Columbia Mayor Stephen Benjamin, and US Representative Kathy Castor participated in a panel discussion as part of the Climate Mayors National Dialogue on Green and Equitable Recovery. The event convened like-minded institutions, partners, and policy makers for a discussion about successful climate initiatives in the Southeastern U.S., and ways that the panelists have collaborated across different levels of government. Convened one day after Climate Mayors sent a letter to Congressional leaders, today’s conversation was the first in a Climate Mayors event series advocating for national leadership to prioritize recovery policies that are environmentally sustainable and socially just in the time of COVID-19. It was moderated by veteran journalist Tom O’Hara of The Invading Sea, a collaboration of 26 news organizations that cover climate change in Florida.

"There has never been a better time in history to re-imagine the transition towards an equitable, clean, and sustainable future," said Climate Mayors Steering Committee member Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer. "As we look to move forward, we have an opportunity to rebuild our economies by doubling-down on our climate action work, to enhance the energy efficiency and indoor environmental quality in our homes and workplaces, accelerate more renewable energy and catalyze clean transportation and mobility solutions, such as zero-emission electric buses and vehicles."

“No matter how large and global issues such as climate change may be, as Mayors we understand and can often see first-hand the impact they have at our local levels, and witness the detrimental effects on people we know in our communities,” said Climate Mayors member Columbia Mayor Steve Benjamin. “I am encouraged by the efforts of Climate Mayors who are developing the strategies to confront the climate-based threats, and pleased to join their ranks and seek the very real and actionable methods to adapt our local communities to overcoming those threats.”

“Today, we stand at the intersection of resiliency; a place where the many faces and forms of resilience converge and this panel should serve as a reminder for exactly that,” said Climate Mayors member Miami Mayor Francis Suarez. “Resiliency is never about just any one issue. Whether we’re establishing new clean-energy infrastructure or building up a food distribution system, genuine sustainability is a network and it makes me proud to be a member of an organization that tackles resilience from the root source.”

“Mayors and local leaders are taking crucial steps to make their communities more resilient, filling a leadership void left by a president who mocks science, ignores public health experts, and calls the climate crisis a hoax,” said Chair Kathy Castor of the U.S. House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis. “Now more than ever, these local leaders deserve a strong federal partner to boost their local economies, protect the health and safety of families, and solve the climate crisis. We must work together on climate solutions for communities across America, as we prioritize environmental justice, unite behind the science, and ensure a robust economic recovery in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Later events in the Climate Mayors series will highlight policies and initiatives undertaken by climate leaders in the Great Lakes region, Texas, and Pennsylvania. Mayors and their partners will highlight how environmental initiatives can help stimulate local economies, create jobs, improve public health, and reduce carbon emissions in the wake of COVID-19. They will also discuss the ways that their sustainability policies prioritize frontline communities and communities of color, who are more likely to be affected by pollution and the negative impacts of climate change.

“Mayors have long been on the frontlines of addressing critical issues in our communities, and in recent months they have responded to intersecting crises of COVID-19, climate change, racial inequity, and a rapid economic downturn,” said James Ritchotte, Director of Climate Mayors. “Climate Mayors are delivering results and leading important conversations about building a better tomorrow to ensure all communities are healthier, cleaner, and more resilient than before.”

For more information on upcoming events in Climate Mayors National Dialogue on Green and Equitable Recovery, please visit www.climatemayors.org.

About Climate Mayors Representing 74 million Americans from 48 states, Climate Mayors is a peer-to-peer network of 461 U.S. city mayors who have committed to fighting climate change. Originally founded in 2014, the network’s ranks swelled to almost 400 mayors in response to the Trump administration’s withdrawal from the Paris Agreement. Climate Mayors commit to taking ambitious action to meet each of their cities’ current climate goals, while working together towards achieving our national Paris targets. Climate Mayors is founded and Chaired by Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, and Co-Chaired by Mayors Sylvester Turner (Houston) and Martin J. Walsh (Boston). For more information, please visit www.climatemayors.org.

Media Contact: Melody Meyer, mmeyer@bpimedia.com; Grace Hemming, ghemming@bpimedia.com

Climate Mayors Urge Congressional Leadership to Advance a Green and Equitable Recovery

198 mayors deliver letter to leaders in D.C. advocating a zero-carbon green economy that creates good-paying jobs and prioritizes equity

Read the letter from Climate Mayors here.

JULY 22, 2020 — Climate Mayors today sent a letter to Congressional leaders urging bold action to protect our planet and build a more just economy in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Representing a network of 461 U.S. mayors across the country committed to upholding the Paris Climate Agreement, Climate Mayors called on Congress to invest in an economic recovery that injects more resilience, equity, and sustainability into our communities. “COVID-19 has laid bare the systemic inequities too often found at the heart of our communities – and when we start to emerge from this crisis, we must rebuild an economy that truly works for everyone,” said Climate Mayors co-founder and Chair, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti. “Every member of the Climate Mayors network is putting health, fairness, and sustainability at the center of our local COVID-19 response and recovery plans, but we need national leadership to kick this work into overdrive and help us strengthen our economies and solve the climate crisis.”

With the focus squarely on rebuilding the economy and country stronger than ever before, the mayors have advocated for a nationwide transition to a zero-carbon economy – a step already happening in cities across the country and a bold move that will create good-paying green jobs, lead to cleaner air and lower emissions, improve public health, support resilience, and lift up our most vulnerable residents. The global coronavirus pandemic has hit communities of color and low-income families particularly hard – the same families, workers, and neighborhoods who suffer most from the ill effects of climate change, including dangerous emissions, skyrocketing temperatures, intense wildfires, and extreme weather events like floods and hurricanes. Climate Mayors are determined to build a strong, green economy that ensures all Americans are prepared for future health, economic, and environmental shocks.

“Equity is at the heart of all we do in Boston,” said Climate Mayors Co-Chair Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh. “As we work towards an equitable recovery from COVID-19, it’s key we come together to ensure we are strengthening our communities so they are healthy, resilient, and give every resident the same opportunities they deserve.”

“Whether it is climate change or COVID-19, a city’s primary responsibility is to protect our most vulnerable,” said Climate Mayors Co-Chair Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner. “In cities like Houston, that means fighting a global pandemic in the middle of a heat wave and hurricane season. The connection between climate and community health has never been clearer or the need for strong, federal action more important. When we look to recovery, it is not enough to build back; we must build forward and create healthy cities and leaders in a global energy transition.”

Recognizing the need to work together at every level of government to move beyond this devastating pandemic, Climate Mayors strongly urged federal legislators to work with state and city leadership to build new policies and amplify existing programs that have proven effective. In the letter, Climate Mayors lists several goals that Congress should prioritize as part of the recovery, including:

• Build for a Better Future: Returning to the status quo is not sufficient in meeting the challenges of climate change and inequities in our communities. We must increase our resolve and ambition to reinvest in America’s communities.

• Leading with Equity: Federal investments in our municipalities must prioritize those communities who have been left behind, and frontline communities and people of color who have been disproportionately impacted by the effects of climate change and COVID-19.

• Prioritizing Multiple Benefits: The best investments will create jobs, strengthen communities, and improve health outcomes in our cities and towns.

“For the past five months, Climate Mayors have been on the frontlines responding to the public health and economic crises caused by COVID-19, and to the calls for racial justice across the country,” said James Ritchotte, Director of Climate Mayors. “Amid these intersecting challenges, Climate Mayors remain committed to policies and initiatives that make their communities more just, sustainable, and resilient to future shocks. This work should not be on the shoulders of local leaders alone — cities need constructive partners in our federal government who will prioritize a green and equitable economic recovery.”

The letter includes a sample of recommended policies and programs to advance a just, equitable, and resilient economic recovery that will put Americans back to work and create cleaner, healthier, more livable communities. The policy recommendations are accompanied by success stories from Climate Mayors member cities where similar policies have led to community benefit.

Please find a full version of the letter here.

On July 23, Climate Mayors will be kicking off its National Dialogue on Green and Equitable Recovery, a virtual speaker series advocating for national leadership to prioritize recovery policies that are environmentally sustainable and socially just in the time of COVID-19. The first event will focus on the Southeast with a panel featuring Climate Mayors Steering Committee member Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, Climate Mayors member Miami Mayor Francis Suarez, Climate Mayors member Columbia Mayor Stephen Benjamin and U.S. Representative Kathy Castor from Florida’s 14th District and Chair of the Select Committee on the Climate Crisis. For more information on the series, you can read the full release here.

Register for the July 23 event here.

About Climate Mayors: Representing 74 million Americans from 48 states, Climate Mayors is a peer-to-peer network of 461 U.S. city mayors who have committed to fighting climate change. Originally founded in 2014, the network’s ranks swelled to almost 400 mayors in response to the Trump administration’s withdrawal from the Paris Agreement. Climate Mayors commit to taking ambitious action to meet each of their cities’ current climate goals, while working together towards achieving our national Paris targets. Climate Mayors is founded and Chaired by Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, and Co-Chaired by Mayors Sylvester Turner (Houston) and Martin J. Walsh (Boston). For more information, please visit www.climatemayors.org.

Media Inquiries: Melody Meyer, mmeyer@bpimedia.com; Grace Hemming, ghemming@bpimedia.com

Climate Mayors Launch National Dialogue on Green and Equitable Recovery

The leadership series will feature conversations in regions across the U.S., highlighting how environmental initiatives will help stimulate local economies, create jobs, improve public health, and reduce carbon emissions in the wake of COVID-19

Read the top takeaways from the series.

Watch the Ohio Valley event's full panel discussion.

Listen to the Great Lakes event's full panel discussion.

Watch the Texas event's full panel discussion.

 Watch the Southeast event's full panel discussion.

JULY 14, 2020 – Today, Climate Mayors, the network of 453 U.S. mayors committed to upholding the Paris Climate Agreement, announced the Climate Mayors National Dialogue on Green and Equitable Recovery, a virtual speaker series advocating for national leadership to prioritize recovery policies that are environmentally sustainable and socially just in the time of COVID-19. Each livestream event will feature members of Climate Mayors and other leaders from a specific U.S. region, and convene like-minded institutions, partners, and policy makers for a discussion about successful local climate initiatives, and how to drive a just, equitable, and resilient economic recovery. Climate Mayors and partners will also discuss the ways that their sustainability policies prioritize frontline communities and communities of color, who are more likely to be affected by pollution and the negative impacts of climate change.

“When the COVID-19 crisis ends, we have to heed the lessons of this moment in our recovery –– placing communities hit hardest by this pandemic on the path to a more just, sustainable, and healthy future,” said Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, Chair and co-founder of Climate Mayors. “Hailing from every part of the country, Climate Mayors are leading the response today and stand ready to pave the road ahead with climate action that boosts jobs, spurs equitable growth, delivers cleaner air, and lowers emissions for frontline families.”

The Climate Mayors National Dialogue on Green and Equitable Recovery will kick off later this month in the Southeast with a panel featuring Climate Mayors Steering Committee member Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, Climate Mayors member Miami Mayor Francis Suarez, Climate Mayors member Columbia Mayor Stephen Benjamin, and US Representative Kathy Castor from Florida’s 14th District and Chair of the Select Committee on the Climate Crisis, moderated by veteran journalist Tom O’Hara of The Invading Sea, a collaboration of 26 news organizations that cover climate change in Florida. 

Watch the full panel discussion. 

Events later in the summer and fall will feature Climate Mayors and partners from the Great Lakes region, Texas, Louisiana, and Pennsylvania.
For more information on the upcoming Climate Mayors livestream panel discussions, including dates and times as they are announced, please visit www.climatemayors.org.

About Climate Mayors: Representing 72 million Americans from 48 states, Climate Mayors is a diverse network of 453 U.S. city leaders who have committed to fighting climate change. Originally founded in 2014, the network’s ranks swelled to almost 400 mayors in response to the Trump administration’s withdrawal from the Paris Agreement. Climate Mayors commit to taking ambitious action to meet each of their cities’ current climate goals, while working together towards achieving our national Paris targets. Climate Mayors is founded and Chaired by Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, and Co-Chaired by Mayors Sylvester Turner (Houston) and Martin J. Walsh (Boston). For more information, please visit www.climatemayors.org.

Media Contact: Melody Meyer, mmeyer@bpimedia.com; Grace Hemming, ghemming@bpimedia.com

Climate Mayors Statement on the Trump Administration’s Announcement of Formal Withdrawal from the Paris Agreement

NOVEMBER 4, 2019 — Today, the Climate Mayors, a non-partisan network of U.S. mayors working to combat climate change through meaningful actions in their communities, issued the following statement denouncing the Trump administration’s announcement that it will begin formal withdrawal proceedings from the Paris Agreement: “The Trump administration’s announcement reaffirms what we’ve already known: this administration is willing to ignore the realities of climate change and risk the physical and financial health of Americans. “From heavy flooding in the Midwestern plains to intense storms and sea level rise on the coasts, cities across the country are already feeling the impacts of the climate crisis. Despite misguided decisions from the White House, mayors are continuing to step up with innovative and impactful policies to curb emissions from the bottom-up, from deploying more electric vehicles to installing more renewable energy. “From the moment President Trump announced his withdrawal from Paris, our coalition has continued to grow. Now, we represent 435 mayors and over 71 million Americans from both red and blue states, all working together to demonstrate leadership on climate change. No matter what the White House throws our way, Climate Mayors will remain steadfast in upholding the commitments made under the Paris Agreement – and we’ll continue leading climate progress in cities across the country.”

Climate Mayors Statement on President Trump’s Revocation of California Clean Air Act Waiver

September 18, 2019 – Today, a spokesperson from Climate Mayors issued the following statement around the Trump administration’s revocation of California’s waiver under the Clean Air Act: “President Trump’s announcement today that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will rescind California’s authority to regulate pollution from automobiles runs in direct opposition to the EPA’s stated mission and the federal Clean Air Act (CAA), and will be harmful to our residents’ physical and financial health – impacts that we simply cannot afford in the face of a growing climate crisis. We need carmakers to harness their innovation and accelerate the nation’s progress toward a new, clean era of transportation. Instead, today’s decision will stall the progress we’ve already made in cleaning up our transportation sector, the highest-polluting sector in the United States. Under the CAA, California has the authority to adopt stronger pollution standards than those set by the federal government. Other states have not been granted similar authority but can opt to follow California’s motor vehicle emission regulations. Maintaining state authority to protect local communities from pollution has strong support from Climate Mayors across the country who want to take meaningful and ambitious action toward fighting climate change. The administration’s ironic assault on states’ rights will directly harm the more than 118 million people living in 14 states and the District of Columbia that have adopted more stringent vehicle pollution standards in order to protect the health of their communities. But whether or not the White House is on board, this much is clear: the automotive industry is already producing cleaner and, increasingly, more zero-emissions vehicles – not just because they’re good for the environment, but also because of the economic and public health benefits that follow. That’s why companies such as Honda, Ford, Volkswagen, and BMW have already expressed their commitment to maintaining strong emissions standards established in 2012 and currently under threat by the Trump administration. And it’s also why Climate Mayors across the country are making strides in deploying clean vehicles in their cities. The Climate Mayors Electric Vehicle Purchasing Collaborative is bringing cities to the table and deploying electric vehicles to streets from coast to coast – and no decision from the White House will stop our progress. As Climate Mayors representing over 71 million Americans in over 430 cities across the United States, we are committed to leading on climate action, no matter who occupies the Oval Office. We will continue our efforts to hasten the transition to more efficient and zero-emissions vehicles because we know it’s what’s best for our residents, our economy, and our environment.”

Climate Mayors Statement in Support of Strong Auto Efficiency Standards

Climate Mayors responds to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Scott Pruitt’s April 2, 2018 announcement of proposed weakening of corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) standards: 

As mayors representing 69 million Americans, across 47 states (and the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico), with millions of vehicles on our roads, we strongly support the current federal standards on vehicle fuel efficiency and oppose the Trump Administration’s efforts to roll back this important policy.  Today’s announcement leaves the health of American families hanging in the balance while creating uncertainty in the automotive market. The standards adopted by the US EPA in 2011 are saving American drivers money at the gas pump, keeping the country competitive in a sector trending toward zero emissions innovation, and cleaning up the air we all breathe.

As mayors, we are bound by our common commitment to lead in the fight against climate change. Last year 30 Climate Mayors released a joint Electric Vehicle Request for Information (EV RFI) proving to car companies that if they build zero emissions vehicles, we will buy them. These first 30 cities put forward a combined 114,000 vehicles representing $10 billion in industry value. We want these vehicles because they save us money, offer new technologies and services, and protect local communities from harmful air pollution.

We will continue our efforts to hasten the transition to more efficient and zero emissions vehicles. We had long viewed the federal government as a partner on clean cars, but we won’t let it take us backwards.

Climate Mayors Submit Comments on Proposed Repeal of Clean Power Plan

244 U.S. Mayors from 48 states and territories, representing over 52 million Americans, strongly oppose EPA’s proposed repeal of Clean Power Plan

In a comment letter re-submitted today to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), 244 mayors from 48 states and territories voice opposition to efforts by the Trump administration and EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt to dismantle the Clean Power Plan, as it would have devastating health and economic impacts on their communities, including exposing Americans to increased air pollution, worsening climate change, and more extreme weather events.  This comment letter was originally submitted to US EPA on February 20, 2018, with 233 signatories. Additional mayors wishing to add their support to this comment letter should email: info@climate-mayors.org to be included.

 March 27, 2018

By electronic mail (a-and-r-Docket@epa.gov) and first-class mail Administrator Scott Pruitt Environmental Protection Agency EPA Docket Center (EPA/DC) Mail Code 28221T Attention Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2017-03551200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20460 Administrator Pruitt: As mayors from 244 U.S. cities, we submit this letter of comment to oppose the Environmental Protection Agency’s proposed repeal of the Clean Power Plan, Repeal of Carbon Pollution Emission Guidelines for Existing Stationary Sources: Electric Utility Generating Units. Collectively, we represent over 52 million residents, in 48 states & territories across the country. We strongly oppose the proposed repeal of the Clean Power Plan, which would put our citizens at risk and harm our efforts to address the urgent threat of climate change. Climate Change is Global but Impacts are Felt Locally Communities across the country are experiencing the effects of climate change today: sea level rise; hotter, longer, and more frequent heat waves; increased extreme weather; and many other harmful impacts. There is broad agreement that the future economic costs of climate change should not be overlooked. On our current path, the annual cost of coastal storm damage is expected to climb to as high as $35 billion by the 2030s; coastal property valued at $66 to $106 billion will likely be underwater by 2050. No one is insulated from the impacts of climate change – people in cities of all sizes, along with suburban and rural communities are all at risk. Residents of our communities have experienced harmful impacts of climate change such as dirtier air, increased heat-related illnesses and deaths, damaged and disappearing coastlines, longer droughts and other strains on water quantity and quality, and increasingly frequent and severe storms and wildfires. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions is essential to protect our citizens against the worst impacts of climate change. A peer-reviewed study conducted by EPA projected stark differences between a world in the year 2100 where global warming averages 2 degrees Celsius—a goal for which the Clean Power Plan is critical—and one in which global warming averages 4 degrees Celsius: 57,000 fewer domestic deaths per year due to poor air quality; 12,000 fewer domestic deaths per year from extreme heat and cold in 49 U.S. cities; up to $6.4 billion in avoided annual adaptation costs from severe precipitation in 50 U.S. cities; $3.1 billion in avoided annual damages and adaptation costs from sea level rise and storm surge on the coasts; and up to $2.5 billion in avoided damages from inland flooding. Repealing the Clean Power Plan Would Slow Local Efforts to Address Climate Change. Not only are climate change impacts felt locally — our communities are also where climate change adaptation and mitigation efforts are being implemented. Urban, suburban, and rural communities across the country are reducing their contributions to greenhouse gas emissions by investing in energy efficiency, committing to the use of clean energy resources, and reducing reliance on fossil-fueled energy sources—efforts that protect against climate change, and also support clean air and a vibrant clean energy economy. But the legal authority of cities and other municipalities generally extends only as far as their state governments and federal law allow, and as a result, our local efforts to address climate change are highly sensitive to national policies like the Clean Power Plan, which shape markets, steer state action, and have large direct impacts on nationwide emissions. We would benefit from the support and certainty that a federal framework for reducing the power sector’s greenhouse gas emissions could provide. The Clean Power Plan, by providing such a framework, would enhance ongoing local efforts and enable new local initiatives to improve public health, increase air quality, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions through energy innovation. We would like to reiterate a statement that more than 25 mayors delivered during the course of the Clean Power Plan development: “[W]e cannot act alone. We need the federal government to provide a path forward to making meaningful reductions in carbon pollution while preparing for the impacts of climate change.”As 244 mayors of communities across the U.S., representing over 52 million residents in 48 states & territories we strongly oppose the repeal of the Clean Power Plan, which would put our citizens at risk and undermine our efforts to prepare for and protect against the worst impacts of climate change.

Sincerely,

Mayor Peggy McQuaidAlbany, CAMayor Kathy SheehanAlbany, NYMayor Tim KellerAlbuquerque, NMMayor Ed PawlowskiAllentown PAMayor Gary GoosmanAmesville, OHMayor Sofia PereiraArcata, CAMayor Nancy KaboolianArdsley, NYMayor Esther ManheimerAsheville, NCMayor Steve SkadronAspen, COMayor Keisha Lance BottomsAtlanta, GAMayor Steve AdlerAustin, TXMayor Catherine E. PughBaltimore, MDMayor Kelli LinvilleBellingham, WAMayor Jesse ArreguinBerkeley, CAMayor Robert J. DonchezBethlehem, PAMayor Michael P. CahillBeverly, MAMayor Lili BosseBeverly Hills, CAMayor Randall WoodfinBirmingham, ALMayor Leslie Hager-SmithBlacksburg, VAMayor David H. BieterBoise, IDMayor Martin J. WalshBoston, MAMayor Suzanne JonesBoulder, COMayor Eric MamulaBreckenridge, COMayor Joseph P. GanimBridgeport, CTMayor W. Clarke ConwayBrisbane, CAMayor Brenda J. HessBuchanan, MIMayor Byron W. BrownBuffalo, NYMayor Miro WeinbergerBurlington, VTMayor Edwin García FelicianoCamuy, PRMayor Robert J. Moffatt, VMDCape May Point, NJMayor Jim BrainardCarmel, INMayor Lydia E. LavelleCarrboro, NCMayor Mike WebbCarver, MNMayor Pam HemmingerChapel Hill, NCMayor John TecklenburgCharleston, SCMayor Scott RogersCharles Town, WVMayor Andy BerkeChattanooga, TNMayor Chuck CahnCherry Hill, NJMayor Rahm EmanuelChicago, ILMayor Mary Casillas SalasChula Vista, CAMayor John CranleyCincinnati, OHMayor Ted TerryClarkston, GAMayor Frank G. JacksonCleveland, OHMayor Patrick WojahnCollege Park, MDMayor Brian TreeceColumbia, MOMayor Steve BenjaminColumbia, SCMayor Jeff KatzCooperstown, NYMayor Raul Valdes-FauliCoral Gables, FLMayor Carla CondonCorte Madera, CAMayor Brian TobinCortland, NYMayor Biff TraberCorvallis, ORMayor Mark LandmanCotati, CAMayor Roger W. FosterCrete, NEMayor Darcy PaulCupertino, CAMayor Mike RawlingsDallas, TXMayor Juslyn ManaloDaly City, CAMayor Robb DavisDavis, CAMayor Cary GlicksteinDelray Beach, FLMayor Michael B. HancockDenver, COMayor Josh MaxwellDowningtown, PAMayor David HaubertDublin, CAMayor Roy D. BuolDubuque, IAMayor Emily LarsonDuluth, MNMayor Stephen M. SchewelDurham, NCMayor Brad CohenEast Brunswick Township, NJMayor Mark S. MeadowsEast Lansing, MIMayor Nancy Tyra-LukensEden Prairie, MNMayor James HovlandEdina, MNMayor Dave EarlingEdmonds, WAMayor David KaptainElgin, ILMayor John J. BautersEmeryville, CAMayor Lucy VinisEugene, ORMayor Stephen H. HagertyEvanston, ILMayor Karl W. KasselFairbanks North Star Borough, AKMayor Ed MalloyFairfield, IAMayor Peter LindstromFalcon Heights, MNMayor David TarterFalls Church, VAMayor Colleen MahrFanwood, NJMayor Lioneld JordanFayetteville, ARMayor David CoulterFerndale, MIMayor Lindy PetersFort Bragg, CAMayor Wade TroxellFort Collins, CO

Mayor John P. “Jack” SeilerFort Lauderdale, FLMayor Thomas C. HenryFort Wayne, INMayor Bob ScottFranklin, NCMayor Lily MeiFremont, CAMayor Gary WilkinsonFrisco, COMayor Lauren B. PoeGainesville, FLMayor J Kachen KimmellGambier, OhioMayor Karen Freeman-WilsonGary, INMayor Tammy StempelGladstone, ORMayor Bruce J PackerGlen Rock, NJMayor Marjorie SloanGolden, COMayor Paula PerotteGoleta, CAMayor Rosalynn BlissGrand Rapids, MIMayor Emmett V. JordanGreenbelt, MDMayor Peter SwiderskiHastings-on-Hudson, NYMayor Harry KimCounty of Hawai’i, HIMayor Barbara HallidayHayward, CAMayor Nancy RoteringHighland Park, ILMayor Gayle Brill MittlerHighland Park, NJMayor Ravinder S. BhallaHoboken, NJMayor Josh LevyHollywood, FLMayor Alex MorseHolyoke, MAMayor Kirk CaldwellHonolulu, HIMayor Paul BlackburnHood River, ORMayor Sylvester TurnerHouston, TXMayor Candace B. HollingsworthHyattsville, MDMayor Serge DedinaImperial Beach, CAMayor Jim ThrogmortonIowa City, IAMayor Svante MyrickIthaca, NYMayor Pete MuldoonJackson, WYMayor Sly JamesKansas City, MOMayor Bernard P. Carvalho JrKauai, HIMayor John AntaramianKenosha, WIMayor Steve NobleKingston, NYMayor Madeline RogeroKnoxville, TNMayor Tim KabatLa Crosse, WIMayor Christine BergLafayette, COMayor Robert BlaisLake George Village, NYMayor Adam PaulLakewood, COMayor Danene SoraceLancaster, PAMayor William J SpragueLapeer, MIMayor Ken MiyagishimaLas Cruces NMMayor Craig A. MoeLaurel, MDMayor Stuart BoleyLawrence, KSMayor Theodore BeckerLewes, DEMayor Robert GarciaLong Beach, CAMayor Adam SchneiderLong Branch, NJMayor Eric GarcettiLos Angeles, CAMayor Greg FischerLouisville, KYMayor Paul SoglinMadison, WIMayor Joyce CraigManchester, NHMayor Amy HoworthManhattan Beach, CAMayor Barry J. GreenbergMaplewood, MOMayor Alan M. ArakawaMaui, HIMayor Stephanie M. BurkeMedford, MAMayor Jim StricklandMemphis, TNMayor Dan GelberMiami Beach, FLMayor Gurdip Brar, Ph.D.Middleton, WIMayor Daniel T. DrewMiddletown, CTMayor Sean StrubMilford, PAMayor Jeff SilvestriniMillcreek, UTMayor Tom BarrettMilwaukee, WIMayor Jacob FreyMinneapolis, MNMayor John EngenMissoula, MTMayor Mary O’ConnorMonona, WIMayor Jamie IronsMorro Bay, CAMayor Arlene BurnsMosier, ORMayor Lenny SiegelMountain View, CAMayor Frederick T. CourtrightMount Pocono, PAMayor Jill TechelNapa, CAMayor Megan BarryNashville, TNMayor Kristopher LarsenNederland, COMayor Jon MitchellNew Bedford, MAMayor Donna D. HoladayNewburyport, MAMayor Toni N. HarpNew Haven, CTMayor Mitchell J. LandrieuNew Orleans, LATown Supervisor Neil BettezNew Paltz, NYMayor Bill de BlasioNew York City, NYMayor Paul A. DysterNiagara Falls, NYMayor Lynne MillerNorman, OKMayor David J. NarkewiczNorthampton, MAMayor Smith Joseph D.O., Pharm.D.North Miami, FL  

Mayor Don HammondNyack, New YorkMayor Libby SchaafOakland, CAMayor Johnny JohnstonOjai, CAMayor Cheryl SelbyOlympia, WAMayor Buddy DyerOrlando, FLMayor Victoria GearityOssining, NYMayor Andy BeermanPark City, UTMayor Donald R. GrebienPawtucket, RIMayor Frank C. OrtisPembroke Pines, FLMayor Jim KenneyPhiladelphia, PAMayor Cindy PerryPittsboro, NCMayor Jeremy JohnsonPittsburg, KSMayor William PedutoPittsburgh, PAMayor Kurt R. MetzgerPleasant Ridge, MIMayor Ethan StrimlingPortland, MEMayor Ted WheelerPortland, ORMayor Deborah StinsonPort Townsend, WAMayor Jorge O. ElorzaProvidence, RIMayor Paul KuhnsRehoboth Beach, DEMayor Hillary SchieveReno, NVMayor Tom ButtRichmond, CAMayor Levar M. StoneyRichmond, VAMayor Lovely WarrenRochester, NYMayor Darrell SteinbergSacramento, CAMayor Jacob DaySalisbury, MDMayor Jackie BiskupskiSalt Lake City, UT

Mayor Ron NirenbergSan Antonio, TXMayor Kevin FaulconerSan Diego, CAMayor Mark FarrellSan Francisco, CAMayor Sam LiccardoSan José, CAMayor Pauline Russo CutterSan Leandro, CAMayor Heidi HarmonSan Luis Obispo, CAMayor Rick BonillaSan Mateo, CAMayor David J. TerrazasSanta Cruz, CAMayor Javier M. GonzalesSanta Fe, NMMayor Ted WintererSanta Monica, CAMayor Shelli Freeland EddieSarasota, FLMayor Chris LainSavanna, ILMayor Jenny DurkanSeattle, WAMayor Michael GonnelliSecaucus, NJMayor George Van DusenSkokie, ILMayor Ken WraySleepy Hollow, NYMayor Scott SaundersSmithville, TXMayor Matthew R. LarsonSnoqualmie, WAMayor Jeffrey SlavinSomerset, MDMayor Dana S. HilliardSomersworth, NHMayor Joseph A. CurtatoneSomerville, MAMayor Pete ButtigiegSouth Bend, INMayor Philip StoddardSouth Miami, FLMayor Sheena C. CollumSouth Orange Village, NJMayor Domenic J. SarnoSpringfield, MAMayor David MartinStamford, CTMayor Donald M. HahnState College, PAMayor Lyda KrewsonSt. Louis, MOMayor Michael TubbsStockton, CAMayor Melvin CarterSt. Paul, MNMayor Glenn HendricksSunnyvale, CAMayor Daniel DietchSurfside, FLMayor Tim KearneySwarthmore, PAMayor Thomas FrommSwedesboro, NJMayor Kate StewartTakoma Park, MDMayor Drew FixellTarrytown, NYMayor Sean MurphyTelluride, COMayor Jim CarruthersTraverse City, MIMayor Jonathan RothschildTucson, AZMayor Brian P. StackUnion City, NJMayor Shelley WelschUniversity City, MOMayor Dave ChapinVail, COMayor Kevin J. RyanVerona, NJMayor Muriel BowserWashington, DCMayor Lowell HurstWatsonville, CAMayor John HeilmanWest Hollywood, CAMayor John DennisWest Lafayette, INMayor Daniel J. StermerWeston, FLMayor Jeri MuoioWest Palm Beach, FLMayor Christopher CabaldonWest Sacramento, CAMayor Daniel CoronaWest Wendover, NVMayor Bud StarkerWheat Ridge, COMayor Thomas RoachWhite Plains, NYMayor Mike SpanoYonkers, NYMayor Amanda Marie EdmondsYpsilanti, MI

The comment letter was originally released on February 20, 2018 (5:00am PST) with 233 signatories. Updated signatories as of 11:00 am PST on March 27, 2018. Mayors wishing to add their support to this comment letter should email: info@climate-mayors.org before the closing of the EPA Comment Period on April 26, 2018.

Mayor Garcetti leads ‘Climate Mayors’ to oppose U.S. withdrawal from Paris Agreement

LOS ANGELES — Mayor Eric Garcetti today led a coalition of mayors across the United States in denouncing President Trump’s decision to walk away from the Paris Climate Agreement.

“Climate change is a fact of life that people in Los Angeles and cities around the world live with every day. It is a grave threat to our health, our environment, and our economy — and it is not debatable or negotiable,” said Mayor Garcetti. “This is an urgent challenge, and it’s much bigger than one person. With the President pulling out of the Paris Climate Agreement, L.A. will lead by committing to the goals of the accord — and will work closely with cities across America and the world to do the same.”

On Wednesday, Mayor Garcetti worked with Los Angeles City Councilmember Mike Bonin to have a City Council motion introduced instructing the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, and other City Departments, to adopt the principles of the Paris Climate Agreement as the policy of the City of Los Angeles. Councilmembers Nury Martinez, Paul Koretz and Paul Krekorian joined in the motion.

The Mayor is a co-founder of the Mayors National Climate Action Agenda (“Climate Mayors”), which today issued the following statement signed by Mayor Garcetti and 60 other mayors of cities from coast to coast:

“The President’s denial of global warming is getting a cold reception from America’s cities. As 61 Mayors representing 36 million Americans, we will adopt, honor, and uphold the commitments to the goals enshrined in the Paris Agreement. We will intensify efforts to meet each of our cities’ current climate goals, push for new action to meet the 1.5 degrees Celsius target, and work together to create the 21st century clean energy economy. We will continue to lead. We are increasing investments in renewable energy and energy efficiency. We will buy and create more demand for electric cars and trucks. We will increase our efforts to cut greenhouse gas emissions, create a clean energy economy, and stand for environmental justice. And if the President wants to break the promises made to our allies enshrined in the historic Paris Agreement, we’ll build and strengthen relationships around the world to protect the planet from devastating climate risks. The world cannot wait — and neither will we.”

Mayor Garcetti is the co-founder of the Climate Mayors (also known as the Mayors National Climate Action Agenda, or MNCAA), a network of 88 U.S. cities representing more than 43 million Americans — working together to strengthen local efforts for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and supporting efforts for binding federal and global-level policymaking. Earlier this year, Mayor Garcetti led the release of an EV RFI with 30 MNCAA cities to demonstrate potential demand for over 114,000 electric vehicles, trucks, and equipment for cities. Mayor Garcetti is also Vice Chair of the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group, an international network of the world's megacities taking action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and he has signed the Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy.

In March, the Mayor released the second annual progress report on his Sustainable City pLAn, which sets Los Angeles’ greenhouse gas emission reduction targets at 45% below 1990 levels by 2025, 65% by 2035, and 80% by 2050. Of the pLAn’s 2017 goals, over 90 percent are on track to be completed this year.

• Creating more than 20,000 green jobs while reducing the gap between the City and County’s unemployment rates, demonstrating that sustainability and prosperity go hand-in-hand.

• Achieving a record 20 percent reduction in water use per capita, making L.A. the most water efficient big city in America — since 2014, L.A. has reduced enough water to fill over 90,000 Olympic swimming pools.

• Installing enough solar in the last year to power over 12,000 homes, and leading American cities with more than 230MW of total installed solar power.

• Adopting the most ambitious and comprehensive energy and water efficiency law for existing buildings of any U.S. city.

• More than 80 percent of all City fleet procurements in the current budget year are electric vehicles — far exceeding the 2017 target of 50 percent, and giving L.A. the nation’s largest pure battery electric vehicle municipal fleet, as well as the largest electric vehicle police fleet.