Climate Mayors Statement on the Supreme Court’s Decision in West Virginia v. EPA

June 30, 2022 — Today, Climate Mayors' Executive Director Kate Wright released the following statement on the Supreme Court's decision in West Virginia v. EPA: “Today’s ruling from the Supreme Court is a major loss for the United States and our efforts to support climate-resilient and sustainable communities. Cities are on the front lines of the climate crisis and are often the first to feel the effects of dirtier air and unrestrained industries. Many cities like Houston, Phoenix, Madison, Boise, Augusta, Maui, Cleveland, and New Orleans are already taking action to meet ambitious goals to reduce emissions and promote cleaner, more equitable communities. But while mayors are taking bold measures to decrease pollution, their actions alone are not enough. Addressing climate impacts requires reducing emissions in every sector of our economy, across every segment of society—and robust legislative and policy support will be critical to reaching our climate goals and protecting city residents.”

About Climate Mayors Representing over 74 million Americans from 48 states, Climate Mayors is a peer-to-peer network of 474 U.S. city mayors who have committed to fighting climate change. Originally founded in 2014 by 3 mayors, the network’s ranks swelled to almost 400 mayors in response to the U.S. withdrawal from the Paris Agreement in June 2017. Climate Mayors is committed to accelerating equitable climate action to help each member city achieve their climate goals, while working together city-to-city, with states, and the Biden administration to increase national climate ambition. For more information, please visit WWW.CLIMATEMAYORS.ORG. 

Media Contact: climatemayors@fgsglobal.com 

Climate Mayors Gather in Reno for Leadership Forum on Local Climate Action

Group released declaration affirming their support for local and state action to reduce emissions and pollution

Reno, NV – June 6, 2022—Last week, Climate Mayors from cities and towns around the country gathered in Reno, NV for the Climate Mayors Leadership Forum. In partnership with C40 Cities, the forum brought together local leaders, Biden Administration officials, and policy experts to share ideas, demonstrate best practices, and celebrate advancements in local climate action and the Cities Race to Zero. At the close of the Forum, the mayors released a declaration of their collective commitment to expand electric vehicles in their cities. “Cities are at the forefront of the climate crisis and mayors across the United States are coming together here to tell our stories, and learn from one another in investing in clean energy, greening our economies, and creating more sustainable and resilient communities,” said Houston, TX mayor and Climate Mayors Chair, Sylvester Turner. “I am looking forward to our continued partnership with C40 Cities and USCM for this meeting to prioritize the work we are doing.”

“It was a pleasure bringing together this group of local climate champions to exchange ideas and chart a path towards a clean, resilient and equitable future,” said Climate Mayors Executive Director, Kate Wright. “Mayors are on the ground confronting the everyday challenges posed by the climate crisis. With the support of the federal government, they are the ones best positioned to confront those challenges.”

“The Climate Mayors Leadership Forum was an exciting opportunity to hear from fellow mayors and officials from the Biden Administration,” said Phoenix, AZ mayor and Climate Mayors Co-Chair Kate Gallego. “Mayors represent a diverse array of communities— each with unique challenges and opportunities— but the lessons learned from each other are invaluable to keep our communities on track to meet our urgent climate goals in the race to a zero-carbon future.”

“I am thankful the Climate Mayors network was able to bring this tremendous group of leaders together to tackle one of the most significant challenges facing our communities and planet,” said Madison, WI mayor and Climate Mayors Co-Chair Satya Rhodes-Conway. “Local leaders know all too well that climate change is impacting lives right now. Fortunately, we have Mayors around the country stepping up to shape a sustainable future for generations to come.”

"C40 is honored to continue to be a partner with Climate Mayors on this critical event," said Laura Jay, Regional Director for North America at C40 Cities. "The Climate Mayors Leadership Forums provides the opportunity for US mayors to discuss their climate challenges and share innovative solutions that are being deployed in cities. These past two years have shown us more than ever how important it is for mayors to learn from each other in the face of challenges such as COVID-19 and climate change. We're happy to continue our work with Climate Mayors to help great healthier, sustainable, and equitable cities across the country."

During the forum, mayors engaged in dialogue with administration officials to highlight city-level climate priorities and how funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law can aid in those efforts. Mayors also held a discussion with Matt Petersen, President & CEO of Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator and Climate Mayor Board Chair, and Nick DePorter, Sr. Lead Manager of Public Policy and Economic Graph at LinkedIn on generating green jobs in their communities. The forum concluded with Mayor Justin Bibb, of Cleveland Mayor LaToya Cantrell, of New Orleans, Mayor Lauren McLean, of Boise, Mayor Hardie Davis Jr., of Augusta, Mayor Steve Adler, of Austin, and Mayor Michael Victorino, of Maui sharing case studies from their cities to highlight building resilience, achieving carbon neutrality, and electrifying municipal vehicle fleets.

About Climate MayorsRepresenting over 74 million Americans from 48 states, Climate Mayors is a peer-to-peer network of 474 U.S. city mayors who have committed to fighting climate change. Originally founded in 2014 by 3 mayors, the network’s ranks swelled to almost 400 mayors in response to the U.S. withdrawal from the Paris Agreement in June 2017. Climate Mayors is committed to accelerating equitable climate action to help each member city achieve their climate goals, while working together city-to-city, with states, and the Biden administration to increase national climate ambition.

For more information, please visit WWW.CLIMATEMAYORS.ORG. 

Climate Mayors Release Declaration Supporting State's Rights to Advance Electric Vehicles through Tightened Fuel Economy Standards

Resolution follows Climate Mayors Leadership Forum in Reno where city leaders focused on sharing ambitious solutions at local level

June 6, 2022 — Today, Climate Mayors released a declaration supporting states' rights to advance electrification through fuel economy standards after city leaders gathered in Reno for the Climate Mayors Leadership Forum last week. Climate Mayors asserted its unwavering support for the mayors of New York, Los Angeles, and Washington, DC, and the 19 states that have taken legal action to support states’ rights to set stronger emission regulations. The declaration follows the challenge to California’s decision to set its own auto emission standards, which, if repealed, would increase greenhouse gas emissions and worsen air pollution. Climate Mayors is focused on addressing the largest sources of emissions and pollution in U.S. cities. Recognizing the transportation sector as the largest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, Climate Mayors launched their EV Purchasing Collaborative in 2018 to accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles. The Collaborative has helped cities convert municipal fleets by leveraging the collective buying power of cities to increase EV affordability and access across the country.

Specifically, the declaration states that Climate Mayors:

1. Agrees with member mayors in New York, Los Angeles, and Washington, DC— along with the 19 states who all filed a motion to intervene— that California has the right to regulate auto emissions, and that is key to reducing emissions which impact disadvantaged communities the most while helping make EVs more accessible, affordable, and available for everyone.

2. Supports the renewal and expansion of federal tax credits for EVs, and urges Congress to act.

3. Supports state plans for EV corridor charging funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act that includes: investments in disadvantaged and underserved communities first, EV charging stations designed as multi-modal hubs; Public charging infrastructure; and rewarding states, regions, and cities that pass policies and implement programs to improve affordability of EV ownership and access.

Full text of the declaration can be found below.

CLIMATE MAYORS EV DECLARATION

We, the Climate Mayors, are 485 mayors strong, both Democrats and Republicans from 48 states committed to equitable climate action. Given that the transportation sector represents the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States and, in many of our communities, the largest source of air pollution— we are committed to accelerating transportation electrification. Many Climate Mayors members have been advancing the use of Electric Vehicles (EVs) in municipal fleets, installing public EV charging, prioritizing shared mobility along with active and public transit. We are also working together to support the growth and development of the EV market.  In 2018, Climate Mayors launched an EV Purchasing Collaborative which has expanded from city governments to include county governments, transit agencies, port authorities, colleges and universities. Collectively, we have committed to purchasing over 4,000 EVs. The Collaborative is an unprecedented cooperation of Climate Mayors cities to leverage their collective buying power and accelerate the conversion of municipal fleets to electric—sending a powerful signal to the global car market and helping America to maintain its commitment to the Paris Climate Agreement. Reducing urban transportation emissions and improving local air quality depends on local action, aligned state laws, and strong federal standards. Since 1968 when California was granted its first Clean Air Act waiver A lawsuit was filed recently in the U.S. Court of Appeals against California’s waiver which allows it to implement its own greenhouse gas emission standards for cars and light trucks that other states can also adopt and enforce., emissions have dropped significantly within the state and the seventeen states that have chosen to adopt its standards. The lawsuit filed against California’s waiver in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit by Ohio and 16 other states would increase greenhouse gas emissions— contributing to climate change and inviting threats such as extreme heat, sea-level rise, and worsened air pollution— and increase criteria and toxic pollutants, leading to immediate and acute public health threats. As Climate Mayors, we:

1. Agree with our member mayors in New York, Los Angeles, and Washington, DC— along with the 19 states who all filed a motion to intervene— that California has the right to regulate auto emissions, and that is key to reducing emissions which impact disadvantaged communities the most while helping make EVs more accessible, affordable, and available for everyone.

2. Support the renewal and expansion of federal tax credits for EVs, and urge Congress to act.

3. Support state plans for EV corridor charging funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act that includes:

• Investment in disadvantaged and underserved communities first in frontline and fenceline communities next to highways and near ports, airports, and other industrial sites linked to the nationwide highway network. 

• EV charging stations designed as multi-modal hubs that are convenient, safe, and compatible with the movement of people across all modes of transportation, including public transit, sited in locations where the density and land use are consistent with multiple forms of activity and mobility.

• Public charging infrastructure at city libraries or public parks offers access and convenience for city residents, as well as for city government employees driving fleet vehicles. Installing charging infrastructure within multi-unit dwellings and housing authority properties improves equity of access to electric mobility.

• Rewarding states, regions, and cities that pass policies and implement programs to improve affordability of EV ownership and access. 

Climate Mayors will continue to take significant steps to advance equitable climate action in our cities and reduce emissions from cars— including electrifying transportation, increasing investments in public transit and active transportation, and expanding shared zero emissions mobility solutions. We will also advocate for state and federal policy to support cities— together in partnership we can improve the health and sustainability of our communities and address the largest sources of greenhouse gas emissions contributing to climate change. 

About Climate MayorsRepresenting over 74 million Americans from 48 states, Climate Mayors is a peer-to-peer network of 474 U.S. city mayors who have committed to fighting climate change. Originally founded in 2014 by 3 mayors, the network’s ranks swelled to almost 400 mayors in response to the U.S. withdrawal from the Paris Agreement in June 2017. Climate Mayors is committed to accelerating equitable climate action to help each member city achieve their climate goals, while working together city-to-city, with states, and the Biden administration to increase national climate ambition.

For more information, please visit WWW.CLIMATEMAYORS.ORG. 

Climate Mayors’ Leadership Announces Hiring of New Executive Director, Commits to Accelerating Equitable Climate Action In Nearly 500 Member Cities

Kate Wright Appointed Executive Director as Climate Mayors Focus on Cities Deploying Historic Federal Investment in EV Charging Infrastructure & Resiliency

March 9, 2022 — The mayoral leadership and board of directors of Climate Mayors—a growing network of nearly 500 U.S. mayors who have committed to accelerating equitable climate action in cities—announced today the appointment of Kate Wright as its new executive director. Wright joins Climate Mayors from CivicWell (formerly the Local Government Commission), where she worked with city and other local government leaders to spearhead environmental initiatives on climate resilience, clean mobility, sustainable water management, livable communities, renewable energy, and affordable housing.

“We are thrilled to welcome Kate Wright as Climate Mayors’ Executive Director. I am confident she will help grow the organization and bring additional resources to help U.S. mayors accelerate equitable climate action in cities,” said Sylvester Turner, Climate Mayors Chair and Mayor of Houston. “Climate Mayors is the leading organization helping U.S. cities meet the urgency of the climate crisis. As we enter our next chapter, Kate’s knowledge and experience working with local leaders will be pivotal in advancing solutions in communities across the country. and working more closely with the Biden Administration to ensure we invest in our communities through E.V. charging and other critical climate action.”

“After the board conducted a nationwide search with hundreds of applicants, we are excited to have Kate help the Climate Mayors meet this critical moment,” said Matt Petersen, President of the Climate Mayors board of directors. “With her decade of leadership at CivicWell and working with local governments, the board is confident Kate will help Climate Mayors attract increased resources, grow an experienced staff, and create dynamic programming.”

“Kate has been a powerful local leader on climate issues, and I know she is the right person to lead Climate Mayors into their next chapter. I’m proud of what we have been able to achieve together for Sacramento and California with CivicWell and the Mayors’ Commission on Climate Change, and look forward to seeing the impact she’ll have with this national network,” said Climate Mayor Darrell Steinberg, Mayor of Sacramento, CA.

Led by Chair and Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner and Vice-Chairs Mayors Kate Gallego of Phoenix and Satya Rhodes-Conway of Madison, Climate Mayors has grown since its founding in 2014 from 3 mayors to nearly 500 mayors from 48 states today. The leadership of Climate Mayors has created a new governance structure that includes a renewed steering committee, an expanded board of directors, and annual elections of officers. Mayors Turner, Gallego, and Rhodes-Conway recently met with senior DOE and DOT officials, including Secretary Pete Buttigieg, reaffirming their commitment to working with the Biden Administration to ensure funding for EV charging, resiliency, and other investments—thanks to the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act—meets the needs of cities. On the heels of the latest IPCC report, Climate Mayors stand ready to implement solutions in their communities to build resilience and sustainability.

“It’s been such an honor to lead CivicWell for almost a decade, developing the CivicSpark AmeriCorps program and the California Adaptation Forum and other impactful programs advancing climate resilience. I am now thrilled to take this experience to lead Climate Mayors at such an exciting time for local leadership,” said Wright. “All across the nation, Climate Mayors are responding to the urgency of climate change by reimagining how we power, build and move throughout cities. These living laboratories are fostering the next generation of solutions that will be replicated across the globe, catalyzing the virtuous cycle of innovation needed to ensure long-term community resiliency and prosperity.”

Climate Mayors and its work to accelerate equitable climate action cities across the country is made possible in great part thanks to Bloomberg Philanthropies. Microsoft has committed to underwrite the annual Climate Mayors symposium, scheduled for June 2, 2022 in Reno, NV. 

About Climate Mayors Representing over 74 million Americans from 48 states, Climate Mayors is a peer-to-peer network of 474 U.S. city mayors who have committed to fighting climate change. Originally founded in 2014 by 3 mayors, the network’s ranks swelled to almost 400 mayors in response to the U.S. withdrawal from the Paris Agreement in June 2017. Climate Mayors is committed to accelerating equitable climate action to help each member city achieve their climate goals, while working together city-to-city, with states, and the Biden administration to increase national climate ambition.

For more information, please visit WWW.CLIMATEMAYORS.ORG.

About CivicWell CivicWell, formerly the Local Government Commission, is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization supporting sustainable policies and the community leaders who implement them. It inspires, equips, connects, and cultivates leadership for local innovation and community change, especially for leaders responding to the climate crisis and its impacts on their communities. Since 1982, CivicWell has engaged local elected officials, government agencies, and community-based organizations through policy guidance, collaborative partnerships and coalitions, and direct assistance. 

Mayor Turner, Climate Mayors Call on Congressional Leadership to Pass Federal Legislation that Supports Local Climate Action and Resilient Infrastructure

July 13, 2021 – Today, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner, Chair of Climate Mayors, led 146 Mayors from the Climate Mayors network in sending a letter to Congressional leadership calling for the passage of an infrastructure and economic recovery package that supports the critical work of America’s towns and cities to address climate change, create economic opportunity, and confront environmental injustice.In the letter to Speaker Pelosi, Majority Leader Schumer, Minority Leader McCarthy, and Minority Leader McConnell, the Climate Mayors lay out their priorities for federal legislation, including:

1. Prioritize and expand programs where funds flow directly to cities from the federal government.

2. Prioritize local government-led processes for federal funds that flow to the states to improve inclusivity and accountability.

3. Ensure that federal programs and funding prioritize disadvantaged communities and allow sufficient administrative and implementation flexibility to meet local needs.

4. Ensure that federal spending is accompanied by workforce standards that prioritize job quality and equitable access to well-paying high road careers.

“Climate Mayors are committed to rebuilding stronger communities that address structural inequities, create opportunity for hard-working Americans, and tackle an increasingly destabilizing climate. But we cannot create sustainable and resilient cities on our own. We need federal action that includes targeted investments in American cities and towns to build out our nation’s critical infrastructure create a clean energy future that benefits all our communities,” said Mayor Turner.

“In Madison and in cities across the U.S., communities are facing the effects of our changing climate head-on, but we need support from Congress now to overcome barriers, build capacity, and scale solutions,” said Mayor Rhodes Conway, Climate Mayors Co-Chair.  “Every town and city must invest in infrastructure and programs that help build resilience to a shifting climate and act immediately to mitigate against further harm. There is no time to waste; we need Congress to prioritize funding that gives local governments the ability to identify and act on the most effective ways to deploy resources to support resilience in our communities.”

"In Phoenix, we are focused on innovating solutions that protect all of our communities from the serious impacts a changing climate is having on our city," said Mayor Kate Gallego, Climate Mayors Co-Chair. "Yet as severe as the heat is here in Phoenix, my colleagues are dealing with equally challenging problems like flooding in the Midwest or the increasingly damaging hurricanes on the East Coast. Cities face specific challenges unique to their socio-geographical areas, which means we need flexible funding from Congress to solve them. With adequate resources, Mayors and local governments across the U.S. are ready to implement the essential climate solutions that best fit our needs.”

In April, Climate Mayors released a forward-looking report summarizing the key takeaways from the National Dialogue On Green And Equitable Recovery Series and highlighting tangible solutions for a green and just economic recovery in cities across the United States. The report also makes the case for –and lays out how the federal government can be partners in –moving local climate priorities forward. Climate Mayors and its work to accelerate local climate progress across the country is made possible with support by Bloomberg Philanthropies.

The full letter sent to Congressional leadership can be found HERE.

About Climate Mayors

Representing over 74 million Americans from 48 states, Climate Mayors is a peer-to-peer network of 476 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 U.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. For more information, please visit WWW.CLIMATEMAYORS.ORG.

Media Inquiries: James Ritchotte, jritchotte@climate-mayors.org  

Local Climate Action and Resilient Infrastructure Letter

146 Mayors from the Climate Mayors network sent a letter to Congressional leadership calling for the passage of an infrastructure and economic recovery package that supports the critical work of America’s towns and cities to address climate change, create economic opportunity, and confront environmental injustice. In the letter to Speaker Pelosi, Majority Leader Schumer, Minority Leader McCarthy, and Minority Leader McConnell, the Climate Mayors lay out their priorities for federal legislation.

Read the full letter HERE.

146 Mayors have signed on to the letter

Anchorage, AK- Mayor Davidson Fayetteville, AR- Mayor Jordan Flagstaff, AZ- Mayor Deasy Phoenix, AZ- Mayor Gallego Tempe, ZA- Mayor Woods Tucson, AZ- Mayor Romero Berkeley, CA- Mayor Arreguin Chula Vista, CA- Mayor Salas Cotati, CA- Mayor Moore Fremont, CA- Mayor Mei Goleta, CA- Mayor Perotte Hayward, CA- Mayor Halliday Imperial Beach, CA- Mayor Dedina Long Beach, CA- Mayor Garcia Los Angeles, CA- Mayor Garcetti Oakland, CA- Mayor Schaaf Richmond, CA- Mayor Butt Sacramento, CA- Mayor Steinberg San Diego, CA- Mayor Gloria San Francisco, CA- Mayor Breed San Jose, CA- Mayor Liccardo San Leandro, CA- Mayor Cutter San Luis Obispo, CA- Mayor Harmon San Rafael, CA- Mayor Colin Santa Cruz, CA- Mayor Meyers Santa Monica, CA- Mayor Himmelrich Watsonville, CA- Mayor Dutra West Hollywood, CA- Mayor Horvath Aspen, CO- Mayor Torre Boulder, CO- Mayor Weaver Breckenridge, CO- Mayor Mamula Denver, CO- Mayor Hancock Fort Collins, CO- Mayor Arndt Golden, CO- Mayor Weinberg Telluride, CO- Mayor Young Bridgeport, CT- Mayor Ganim Hartford, CT- Mayor BroninMiddletown, CT- Mayor Florsheim Washington, DC- Mayor Bowser Lewes, DE- Mayor Becker Boynton Beach, FL- Mayor Grant Coral Gables, FL- Mayor Lago Gainesville, FL- Mayor Poe Hallandale Beach, FL- Mayor Cooper Miami Beach, FL- Mayor Gelber Miramar, FL- Mayor Messam Orlando, FL- Mayor Dyer Pensacola, FL- Mayor Robinson St. Petersburg, FL- Mayor Kriseman Tampa, FL- Mayor Castor West Palm Beach, FL- Mayor James Savannah, GA- Mayor Johnson Hawai’i, County of, HI- Mayor Roth Honolulu, City and County of, HI- Mayor Blangiardi Kauaʻi, County of, HI- Mayor Kawakami Maui, County of, HI- Mayor Victorino Boise, ID- Mayor McLean Chicago, IL- Mayor Lightfoot Evanston, IL- Mayor Biss Hoffman Estates, IL- Mayor McCleod Skokie, Village of, IL- Mayor Van Dusen Carmel, IN- Mayor Brainard Fort Wayne, IN- Mayor Henry Indianapolis, IN- Mayor Hogsett Louisville, KY- Mayor Fischer NewOrleans, LA- Mayor Cantrell Beverly, MA- Mayor Cahill Boston, MA- Mayor Janey Gloucester, MA- Mayor Romeo Theken Medford, MA- Mayor Lungo-Koehn Newburyport, MA- Mayor Holaday Northampton, MA- Mayor Narkewicz Somerville, MA- Mayor Curatone Baltimore, MD- Mayor Scott College Park, MD- Mayor Wojahn Greenbelt, MD- Mayor Byrd Laurel, MD- Mayor Moe Takoma Park, MD- Mayor Stewart Ann Arbor, MI- Mayor Taylor Ferndale, MI- Mayor Piana Grand Rapids, MI- Mayor BlissLansing, MI- Mayor Schor Royal Oak, MI- Mayor Fournier Sterling Heights, MI- Mayor Taylor Burnsville, MN- Mayor Kautz Duluth, MN- Mayor Larson Edina, MN- Mayor Hovand Minneapolis, MN- Mayor Frey St. Paul, MN- Mayor Carter Bozeman, MT- Mayor Andrus St. Louis, MO- Mayor Jones Asheville, NC- Mayor Manheimer Chapel Hill, NC- Mayor Hemminger Charlotte, NC- Mayor Lyles Highlands, NC- Mayor Taylor Lincoln, NE- Mayor Gaylor Baird Claremont, NH- Mayor Lovett Dover, NH- Mayor Carrier Manchester, NH- Mayor Craig Nashua, NH- Mayor Donchess Brunswick, NJ- Mayor Womack Secaucus, NJ- Mayor Gonnelli Swedesboro, NJ- Mayor Fromm Albuquerque, NM- Mayor Keller Las Cruces, NM- Mayor Miyagishima Albany, NY- Mayor Sheehan Ardsley, Village of, NY- Mayor Kaboolian Cooperstown, Village of, NY- Mayor Tillapaugh Cortland, NY- Mayor Tobin Dobbs Ferry, Village of, NY- Mayor Rossillo Hastings-on-Judson, Village of, NY- Mayor Armacost Ithaca, NY- Mayor Myrick Kingston, NY- Mayor Noble NewYork City, NY- Mayor de Blasio White Plains, NY- Mayor Roach Cincinnati, OH- Mayor Cranley Columbus, OH- Mayor Ginther Beaverton, OR- Mayor Beaty Eugene, OR- Mayor Vinis Milwaukie, OR- Mayor Gamba Mosier, OR- Mayor Burns Portland, OR- Mayor Wheeler Erie, PA- Mayor Schember Philadelphia, PA- Mayor Kenney Pittsburgh, PA- Mayor PedutoProvidence, RI- Mayor Elorza Charleston, SC- Mayor Tecklenburg Columbia, SC- Mayor Benjamin Chattanooga, TN- Mayor Kelly Knoxville, TN- Mayor Kincannon Austin, TX- Mayor Adler Dallas, TX- Mayor Johnson Houston, TX- Mayor Turner Manor, TX- Mayor Wallace San Antonio, TX- Mayor Nirenberg Salt Lake City, UT- Mayor Mendenhall Alexandria, VA- Mayor Wilson Blacksburg, VA- Mayor Hager-Smith Charlottesville, VA- Mayor Walker Falls Church, VA- Mayor Tarter Mukilteo, WA- Mayor Gregerson Olympia, WA- Mayor Selby Seattle, WA- Mayor Durkan Green Bay, WI- Mayor Genrich Madison, WI- Mayor Rhodes-Conway Middleton, WI- Mayor Brar

Climate Mayors Call for Green and Equitable National Recovery

Letter from Climate Mayors Chair and Co-Chairs

We are at a pivotal moment in our nation’s history. We face one of the greatest opportunities our generation has ever seen both for sustainable and equitable economic growth and for the reduction of greenhouse gases – and we must seize it.

Climate Mayors – a bipartisan network of over 470 U.S. mayors – is playing a leading role to preserve our environment, create well-paying green jobs, invest in clean air, clean water, and clean energy, and uphold the goals of the Paris Agreement at the local level. This commitment remains steadfast even in these challenging times, and we will continue to prioritize policies and programs that help build a better, more sustainable future. Cities across America have long demonstrated that economic growth and environmental stewardship go hand in hand. Now, our federal government can show the world that investments in a zero-carbon economy are investments in the future of our workforce, the well-being of generations, and the resilience of our infrastructure and public spaces. This moment demands that we accelerate our efforts to drive ambitious, systemic change.

Cities throughout the United States are under tremendous pressure. In the face of the immediate crises – as well as the omnipresent threat of climate change – we encourage policymakers to look to local governments and communities to find meaningful solutions to these shared challenges. If fully funded, effectively implemented, and flexible enough to be adapted locally, the policies highlighted in this report will have a lasting impact on our ability to meet the scope and scale of the challenges before us.

This report highlights key policy priorities and local success stories that are contributing to a green and equitable recovery and have a demonstrated track record of creating jobs and building resilience. We would like to thank RMI for authoring the report, and Bloomberg Philanthropies for their long-standing support of Climate Mayors.

Respectfully,

Mayor Sylvester Turner City of Houston, TX Chair

Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway City of Madison, WI Co-Chair

Mayor Kate Gallego City of Phoenix, AZ Co-Chair

Roadmap to a Green Economic Recovery Begins in Cities According to New Report from Climate Mayors

Report demonstrates cities’ key role in addressing and preventing the worst effects of the climate crisis

Mayors call on federal government to better support cities as they work to build a more just and sustainable future

Download the full report HERE

April 21, 2021 – Today, Climate Mayors released a forward-looking report summarizing the key takeaways from the National Dialogue on Green and Equitable Recovery series and highlighting tangible solutions for a green and just economic recovery in cities across the United States. The report also makes the case for – and lays out how the federal government can be partners in –moving local climate priorities forward.The report outlines key policy priorities and local success stories in the transit and mobility, buildings, electric power, and nature-based system sectors that have a demonstrated track record of creating jobs and building resilience. The report features success stories from Youngstown, Saint Paul, Dayton, Austin, Boston, Orlando, Columbia, Cincinnati, Houston, Pittsburgh, San Antonio, Madison, New Orleans, Los Angeles, and Miami.

“Cities around the country are demonstrating their unmatched ability to be an engine for a sustainable, equitable, and resilient economic recovery,” said Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner, Climate Mayors Chair. “But they cannot do it alone. Cities need direct support from the federal government so they can meet the needs of this moment and deliver on the promise to build back better.”

“We are ready to partner with the federal government and build back better,” said Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway. “With that partnership, we can scale up our efforts and expand our successes throughout our states and regions, and we are excited to do so.”

“This report reflects the remarkable progress cities were able to achieve toward our climate goals when federal leadership was lacking,” said Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego. “Now imagine what we can do in partnership with an administration committed to rejuvenating the nation’s economy and prioritizing a green recovery. The challenges ahead are significant, but so are the opportunities. By working together in our communities, and at all levels of government, we can seize this moment and create a more equitable and sustainable future.”

The success stories of Climate Mayors across the country demonstrate that environmental stewardship, fiscal responsibility, and economic growth are not mutually exclusive. However, city budgets are under enormous strain as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and are in need of federal support. Building back a green economy led by local governments and supported by the federal government is an essential first step in achieving local and national climate goals, while ensuring a just, equitable, and sustainable economic recovery that is resilient for generations to come. This report was developed by Climate Mayors leadership in collaboration with RMI. Climate Mayors and its work to accelerate local climate progress across the country is made possible with support by Bloomberg Philanthropies.

Examples of city-led initiatives include:Houston, TX:

• Approved a lease agreement with Sunnyside Energy, LLC to advance the Sunnyside Solar Project – an innovative public-private partnership to convert a 240-acre closed landfill in the Sunnyside neighborhood into the largest brownfield solar installation in the nation.

• Closed and abandoned in 1970, the landfill has contributed to the stagnation of the neighborhood’s economy and presented serious health and safety concerns for children, families, and residents for decades.

• The project – expected to generate enough clean energy to power 5,000 homes, offset 120 million pounds of carbon per year, and bring an estimated $70 million in private investment to the community – is a perfect example of how brownfield-to-brightfield projects can combat the climate crisis while creating jobs and addressing decades of environmental injustice.

Madison, WI:

• Launched its “GreenPower” solar workforce training program to train and hire workers locally from underrepresented populations.

• The program has installed 1 MW of solar on city facilities as of October 2020.

• After 2020, Mayor Rhodes-Conway intends to ramp up the program and to be adding 1 MW annually by 2022 to support their municipal goal of 100% renewable energy by 2030.

Cincinnati, OH:

• Used federal funding to improve energy efficiency throughout the community

• The Greater Cincinnati Energy Alliance used its Energy Efficiency Conservation Block Grants (EECBGs) to encourage energy efficiency upgrades in residential and commercial buildings resulting in $1.9 million in annual energy savings

• This grant laid the foundation for the Green Cincinnati Plan, which, among other actions, includes plans to reduce energy burdens by 10% by providing funding for upgrades in existing multifamily properties

Miami, FL:

• To combat rising seas and extreme weather, the city established the Miami Forever Bond, a $400 Million General Obligation Bond (GOB) approved by voters in 2017 to fund projects to build resilience

• The Bond dedicates $192 million to mitigate future sea level rise, $100 million toward affordable housing, $78 million for parks and cultural facilities, $23 million for road improvements and $7 million for public safety.

About Climate Mayors Representing over 74 million Americans from 48 states, Climate Mayors is a peer-to-peer network of 476 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 U.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.

For more information, please visit www.climatemayors.org.

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.

Climate Mayors Announces New Chair, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner

January 28, 2021 — Today, Climate Mayors announced that Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner will become the next Chair of the nationwide coalition. In this role, Mayor Turner will help catalyze climate-forward actions taken at the local level, provide an example of climate action for leaders at all levels of government, and advocate for an economic recovery grounded in equity and environmental stewardship.

Mayor Turner succeeds Mayor Martin J. Walsh of Boston, who President Joseph R. Biden nominated to serve as Secretary of Labor. "I congratulate Mayor Walsh on his appointment and thank him for his work to prioritize climate change. It is an honor to succeed him as Chair of Climate Mayors," said Mayor Sylvester Turner. "Cities are powerful drivers in the race against climate change. Mayors are investing in clean energy, greening our economies, and creating more sustainable and resilient communities across the U.S. The global pandemic has brought the connection between climate change and community health to the forefront of our cities and our society. With a new administration in the White House, Climate Mayors are prepared to lead swift, bold action on climate that will help our nation recover and build for a better future." "

Mayors see firsthand how climate change is already impacting the health and wellbeing of people in our communities," said Mayor Walsh. "Mayor Turner has long demonstrated a strong commitment to climate action, and I know that he will work to keep this at the heart of our COVID-19 recovery efforts. I congratulate him on becoming Chair of the Climate Mayors, and I look forward to seeing him advance this work forward on a national and international scale."

Mayor Turner has been a long-standing climate champion for the City of Houston, having served as Mayor during Hurricane Harvey and enduring multiple 500-year storms in just four years. As part of the City’s recovery efforts, Mayor Turner launched Resilient Houston on February 12th, 2020, and the Houston Climate Action Plan on Earth Day’s 50th Anniversary on April 22nd, 2020. These critically important initiatives are focused on transitioning the Energy Capital of the World to a clean energy future and increasing the resilience of communities across the City, prioritizing health, job creation, equity, and sustainability.

Under Mayor Turner's leadership, the City of Houston has committed to purchasing 100% renewable energy and is the largest municipal user of renewable energy in the nation. As part of this effort, the City recently approved the Sunnyside Solar Project - a public-private partnership to convert a 240-acre closed landfill in one of Houston’s most vulnerable communities into the largest urban solar farm in the nation. In conjunction with his Complete Communities Initiative, the project is a prime example of how cities can work with the community to address long-standing environmental justice concerns holistically, create green jobs and generate renewable energy in the process. In addition to serving as Chair of Climate Mayors, Mayor Turner is Chair of the Board of Directors of the Resilient Cities Network. He serves as 1st Vice President on the Board of Trustees for the African American Mayors Association.

“As we look ahead to this new year under the leadership of Mayor Turner, the Climate Mayors network expresses its deepest gratitude to Mayor Walsh for his ongoing commitment to addressing the climate emergency,” said James Ritchotte, Executive Director of Climate Mayors. “We’re honored to have Mayor Turner serve as the new Chair, knowing that he will expand the reach and impact of Climate Mayors, work closely with the new Administration committed to ambitious climate action, and drive an agenda focused on an economic recovery grounded in equity and sustainability.”

Climate Mayors and its work to accelerate local climate progress across the country is made possible with support by Bloomberg Philanthropies.

About Climate Mayors Representing over 74 million Americans from 48 states, Climate Mayors is a peer-to-peer network of 474 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 U.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. For more information, please visit www.climatemayors.org.

For media inquiries please contact climatemayors@fgsglobal.com.

Climate Mayors Statement on President Biden's Executive Order to Rejoin Paris Agreement

JANUARY 20, 2021 — Today, Climate Mayors, a bipartisan network of over 470 U.S. mayors working to combat climate change through meaningful actions in their communities, issued the following statement regarding President Biden’s Executive Order to bring the United States back into the Paris Agreement:

“Since 2017, when the previous administration announced its intention to leave the Paris Agreement, Climate Mayors served as a bulwark against climate complacency. Our 474 member cities have remained committed to upholding the Paris Agreement, and have taken strong actions to reduce carbon emissions and keep the United States on a path of climate progress."

This past year, our cities were ground zero for the fourfold crisis the Biden administration intends to prioritize: the COVID-19 pandemic, a profound economic downturn, extreme climate impacts and a national reckoning with racial inequity. We are at an inflection point and, for cities, the stakes could not be higher." Against this urgent backdrop, Climate Mayors applaud and endorse President Biden’s decision to rejoin the Paris Agreement. With the stakes so high, we are eager to collaborate with a federal administration committed to urgent, bold climate action at the national and international levels.

As leaders on the ground, we keenly understand that climate action will not only protect human civilization and prevent irreparable climate disruption, but will also make American cities cleaner, healthier and more equitable. "This announcement is only the beginning; there is still a lot of work to do. It is essential that the transition to a green energy economy is front and center in any comprehensive economic stimulus package. Climate Mayors are ready to partner immediately on accelerated climate solutions here in the U.S. and abroad. The future of our economy, our public health, and our world depend on it.”

Climate Mayors Statement on the Five-Year Anniversary of Paris Climate Agreement

DECEMBER 11, 2020 — Today, the Climate Mayors, a bipartisan network of U.S. mayors working to combat climate change through meaningful actions in their communities, issued the following statement in regards to the fifth anniversary of the landmark agreement at the Conference of Parties (COP) 21 to combat climate change:

“As mayors, we’re close to the people we serve. We see how climate change is already impacting the residents in our cities, and we know how important it is to take decisive action for the sake of public safety and public health. American cities have long led on climate action in the U.S., especially in the absence of national climate leadership over the last four years.

“When the stakes couldn’t be higher, we are pleased to usher in a new federal administration committed to urgent, bold climate policies that are necessary to protect human civilization and beat the ten-year clock counting down to massive, irreparable climate disruption.

“As we approach the five-year anniversary of the Paris Climate Agreement, Climate Mayors members once again reaffirm our commitment to upholding the Agreement and look forward to working with the Biden-Harris Administration to accelerate our ongoing efforts to curb emissions and prevent the worst effects of climate change. Mayors rallied in support of the Agreement in 2017 when the administration first announced the U.S. would withdraw. Now over 460 Climate Mayors remain committed to upholding the Agreement and to pursuing ambitious action in their communities and around the world.”

Coordinated climate action is more necessary now than ever. This year, our cities have faced many crises at once: an increasingly warmer climate, the global public health emergency of COVID-19, a profound economic crisis, and a national reckoning with racial inequity. As we stated in our letter to Congressional leadership in July, and reinforced throughout our National Dialogue on Green and Equitable Recovery series over the past six months, Climate Mayors are urging the incoming administration and federal policymakers to tackle these crises together based on the following principles:

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

2. Lead 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.

3. Prioritize Multiple Benefits: The best investments will create jobs, strengthen community cohesion and resilience, and improve health outcomes in our cities and towns.

“COVID-19 has made it clear that we need to plan for the future, we need to listen to scientists, and we need to make sustainability a fundamental value of our society. Everything we want to accomplish right now — public health, public safety, racial justice, economic growth, and an equitable recovery from COVID-19 — all depends on a healthy environment. Climate action is the best investment we can make in our cities, our nation, and the world to ensure a sustainable, just, and resilient future.”

Climate Mayors, in Partnership With World Resources Institute, Hosts Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh, New Orleans Mayor Latoya Cantrell for Dialogue About a Sustainable and Just Economic Recovery

The livestream panel was the fifth in the Climate Mayors National Dialogue on Green and Equitable Recovery, and focused on how the federal government can support and accelerate climate policies that have been successful in cities around the country 

Watch the full discussion HERE.

November 17, 2020 – Today, Climate Mayors Chair Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh, Steering Committee Member New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell and U.S. Director of World Resources Institute (WRI) Dan Lashof participated in a panel discussion as part of the Climate Mayors National Dialogue on Green and Equitable Recovery. The discussion focused on climate action needed at all levels of government during COVID-19 and the future of U.S. climate policy.

Today’s conversation was the fifth 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, and the first in the series to discuss the future of U.S. climate action in the wake of the presidential election. The discussion was moderated by Justin Worland, senior correspondent for TIME Magazine covering climate change and the environment.

“There are many parallels between the COVID-19 crisis and the climate crisis,” said Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh. “COVID-19 has made it clear how important it is that we plan for the future; listen to the scientists; and make sustainability a fundamental value of our society. It’s also shown us how important it is for us to work together. Our national recovery from COVID-19 must be rooted in green, equitable solutions that create opportunities for populations that have been hit hardest by the twin pandemics of COVID-19 and systemic racism. Cities have long been leaders in this work, and will continue to do so through coalitions like the Climate Mayors. Today’s discussion was an opportunity to discuss our shared goals moving forward, and I look forward to leading many more of these conversations in the months ahead, as the Climate Mayors’ new Chair.”

“As we have seen with the COVID-19 pandemic and with climate change, our cities have been at the forefront of the impacts, and the needs far exceed the resources available,” said New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell. “Both ongoing crises demand equitable solutions across the board, and we need leadership with a plan to address them. This is why conversations across different areas and sectors will be critical in developing future-oriented solutions for an equitable and green recovery.”

“For the last 4 years climate leadership in the United States has, of necessity, come from cities, states, and companies,” said Dan Lashof, U.S. Director of World Resources Institute. “With an incoming federal administration committed to build back better from COVID-19 by prioritizing climate action, leadership from Climate Mayors will remain essential to tackling the climate crisis at the pace and scale required by science and expected by citizens and the international community.”

Mayors and their partners highlighted how environmental initiatives stimulate local economies, create jobs, improve public health, and reduce carbon emissions amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants also discussed the ways that sustainability policies can prioritize frontline communities and communities of color that are more likely to be affected by pollution and the negative impacts of climate change.

“As we usher in an administration committed to upholding the Paris Agreement and reversing the current administration’s harmful environmental rollbacks, we must not lose sight of our call to action for a just and sustainable economic recovery,” said James Ritchotte, Director of Climate Mayors. “A green economic stimulus isn’t just an investment in our planet — it’s an investment in our economy, our public health, and the long-term prosperity of our country. This year, mayors across the country have shown leadership on the frontlines of the climate crisis, the racial justice crisis, the economic crisis and the public health crisis. And as we prepare for a new year and a new administration, Climate Mayors are eager to partner with the federal government on solutions that build resilience and address all of these crises simultaneously.”

Earlier events in the series featured Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, Miami Mayor Francis Suarez, Columbia Mayor Stephen Benjamin, and U.S. Representative Kathy Castor, Chair of the Select Committee on the Climate Crisis (watch the Southeast event here); Texas leaders Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner, Austin Mayor Steve Adler, and San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg (watch the Texas event here); Great Lakes leaders Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway, Saint Paul Mayor Melvin Carter, and Wisconsin Lieutenant Governor Mandela Barnes (listen to the full Great Lakes event here); and Ohio Valley leaders Pittsburgh Mayor William Peduto, Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley, Cincinnati Mayor John Cranley, and Youngstown Mayor Tito Brown (watch the Ohio Valley event here).

For more Information on the Climate Mayors network, 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 468 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 was founded by Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, and is Chaired by Martin J. Walsh (Boston) and Co-Chaired by Sylvester Turner (Houston). 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

Climate Mayors Announces New Chair, Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh

Mayor Walsh previously served as Co-Chair of the network since its launch in 2014
Outgoing Chair Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti remains in Climate Mayors’ leadership as a member of its Steering Committee  

November 16, 2020 — Today, Climate Mayors, the network of 468 U.S. mayors across the country committed to leading bold climate action and upholding the Paris Climate Agreement, announced that Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh will become the next Chair of the nationwide coalition. In this role, Mayor Walsh will help catalyze climate-forward actions taken at the local level, provide an example of climate action for leaders at all levels of government, and advocate for an economic recovery founded in equity and environmental stewardship. Mayor Walsh succeeds Mayor Eric Garcetti of Los Angeles, co-founder of Climate Mayors, who has served as the network’s Chair since its launch in 2014. Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner will continue in his leadership role as Co-Chair of the network.Mayor Walsh has been a climate champion for Boston and has made bold climate action a top priority since beginning his term in 2014. The City of Boston’s 2019 update to the Climate Action Plan outlined a five-year roadmap to accelerate action towards achieving carbon neutrality by 2050, and put Boston on track to meet the goals laid out in the Paris Climate Agreement. Boston continues to build a successful track record of driving down emissions while simultaneously preparing for sea level rise, extreme temperatures and storms. In each year of his tenure so far, Boston has ranked among the top two cities in the country for energy efficiency by the American Council on an Energy-Efficient Economy. The City is implementing solutions to make Boston’s most vulnerable communities more resilient to the impacts of climate change through Climate Ready Boston and Resilient Boston Harbor, a comprehensive and transformative vision to increase access and open space along Boston’s 47-mile shoreline while better protecting the city during a major flooding event.

“I’m very proud to be named Chair of the Climate Mayors,” said Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh. “As Mayors, we’re close to the people we serve. We see how climate change is already impacting the residents in our cities, and we know how important it is for us to take decisive action for the sake of public safety and public health. American cities have led on climate action for a long time, and especially over the last four years. As we welcome in a federal administration committed to urgent, bold climate policies, the Climate Mayors are looking forward to accelerating our efforts.”

“Mayors see the impacts of climate change firsthand, and we are always first to propose, develop, and implement solutions to this existential challenge,” said Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti. “Cities will never shirk their responsibility to preserve our environment, invest in clean energy, and protect the health of our communities — and there is no one better than Mayor Walsh to carry forward our agenda, uphold the goals of the Paris Agreement, forge a future of sustainability, and deliver a green economy that works for everyone.”

“The COVID19 pandemic has strengthened the connection between climate change and community health, especially in our most vulnerable communities. Now more than ever before, a clean energy transition — driven by cities — is key to global economic recovery,” said Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner. “Over the past four years, Climate Mayors have stepped up to fill the gap when the federal government turned its back on climate action. The City of Houston – the Energy Capital of the World – stands ready to take immediate, bold action to reduce emissions in our city and build a low-carbon economy that can fuel cities across the planet. Mayor Walsh has made environmental justice and climate action a priority for Boston, and I look forward to working alongside him to make the US a leader in the global effort to reduce carbon emissions.”

“Since founding Climate Mayors in 2014, Mayor Garcetti has helped shape Climate Mayors into a robust, engaged network of more than 450 members and cemented it as a leading voice in climate advocacy,” said James Ritchotte, Director of Climate Mayors. “As we look ahead to this new phase under the leadership of Mayor Walsh, the Climate Mayors network expresses its deepest gratitude to Mayor Garcetti for galvanizing our membership and for his commitment to addressing the climate emergency. We’re honored to have Mayor Walsh serve as the new Chair, knowing that he will expand on this legacy, and drive an ambitious agenda focused on a green and equitable recovery across the country.”

Since being elected Mayor in 2013, Mayor Eric Garcetti has dedicated his tenure to making Los Angeles a global leader in climate action and catalyzing more climate action across the world. At the time he co-founded Climate Mayors in 2014, the network consisted of 24 members — in the six years since, Mayor Garcetti helped the network swell to 468 members across 48 states. As Chair of Climate Mayors, he long set an example for other members to follow and helped grow the Climate Mayors Electric Vehicle (EV) Purchasing Collaborative from 20 founding cities and two counties to where it stands today: 231 cities, counties, ports, universities and transit agencies committed to purchasing nearly 4,000 light-duty EVs and buses. Last year, Mayor Garcetti launched Los Angeles’ Green New Deal — an ambitious update to the city’s first-ever Sustainable City pLAn — which serves as a comprehensive roadmap to protect the environment, strengthen the economy and build a more equitable future. He has put the city on track to a 45% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2025 and carbon neutrality by 2050.

Mayor Garcetti will remain in Climate Mayors leadership as a member of its Steering Committee. In 2019, Mayor Garcetti became Chair of C40 Cities, the international network of global cities committed to addressing climate change. As a leader with both Climate Mayors and C40, Mayor Garcetti will continue to foster close collaboration and partnership between the two networks. Climate Mayors and its work to accelerate local climate progress across the country is made possible with support by Bloomberg Philanthropies.

About Climate MayorsRepresenting over 74 million Americans from 48 states, Climate Mayors is a peer-to-peer network of 468 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 was founded by Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, and is Chaired by Martin J. Walsh (Boston) and Co-Chaired by Sylvester Turner (Houston). For more information, please visit www.climatemayors.org.

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

Climate Mayors Hosts Mayors William Peduto - Pittsburgh, Nan Whaley - Dayton, John Cranley - Cincinnati, & Tito Brown - Youngstown for Dialogue About a Sustainable and Just Economic Recovery

The livestream panel was the fourth 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.

October 2, 2020 – Yesterday, Pittsburgh Mayor William Peduto, Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley, Cincinnati Mayor John Cranley and Youngstown Mayor Tito Brown 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 Ohio Valley and ways that the panelists have collaborated to advance climate action both locally and nationally.Yesterday’s conversation was the fourth 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. The discussion was moderated by CB Bhattacharya, H.J. Zoffer Chair in Sustainability and Ethics at the Katz Graduate School of Business at the University of Pittsburgh. Climate Mayors convened this event in partnership with the University of Pittsburgh Center for Sustainable Business.

“It is increasingly clear that we need to develop the resources and capacity to rebuild the communities that built America and the people that live in them. Fostering a just and sustainable clean energy transition is imperative,” said Climate Mayors Steering Committee member Pittsburgh Mayor William Peduto. “We are losing time in competitive challenges between regions and countries to address the climate challenge, to develop the next generation technologies and invest in our infrastructure. We need to create an American Marshall Plan that leverages our financial capacity to create clean energy jobs. I am proud to join together with my fellow mayors to help shape and share this vision.”

“The City of Dayton is committed to move our community forward in a green and resilient direction. We will work to ensure that Dayton plans and executes our future activities in a way that acknowledges the need to reduce carbon emissions, be efficient in our energy consumption, and reverses environmental injustices,” said Climate Mayors member Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley. “Our new Sustainability Strategy promises a high quality of life and a healthy economy for our residents, businesses, institutions, and nonprofits in the future.”

“Cincinnati has laid the groundwork to construct the nation’s largest municipally-owned solar array that will take city administrative buildings off the grid and save our taxpayers money,” said Climate Mayors member Cincinnati Mayor John Cranley. “A cost-saving that will be critical as we continue to navigate the economic impact of COVID-19. Additionally, we have added a Climate Advisor to our Sustainability team to help build programs that address racial equity and energy-burden issues facing our city in light of the changes happening during the pandemic. As environmental stewards asking our residents and business owners to be more carbon-conscious, it is our job to lead that effort at the local level. Cincinnati’s sustainability team is already leading with the economy in mind, and our future is already better for it.”

“The City of Youngstown has begun to focus our efforts on dealing with our environment and preserving the future of our community,” said Climate Mayors member Youngstown Mayor Tito Brown. “We have begun a plan to reduce the carbon emissions by installing electric charging stations around the city, focusing on the uses of autonomous electric power public transportation and upgrading our street lights to LED lighting. The greater impact I can make today as Mayor will create a better future for my children and grandchildren.”The next event in the Climate Mayors series will be a nationally focused discussion later this fall. 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.

“Over the past six months, mayors have been tasked with responding to a convergence of crises — COVID-19 and its economic fallout, climate change and the disasters it creates, and the racial inequity that’s been laid bare in our systems. Climate Mayors in the Ohio Valley and across the nation understand that our country needs a sustainable and equitable economic plan to properly recover from the turmoil and uncertainty of the past year,” said James Ritchotte, Director of Climate Mayors. “The leadership exemplified by Climate Mayors throughout the country, and paired with meaningful support from our federal government to implement these actions on a larger scale, will help launch this nation into a greener, more just future.”

Earlier events in the series featured 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 Southeast event here) Texas leaders Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner, Austin Mayor Steve Adler and San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg; (watch the Texas event here) and Great Lakes leaders Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway, Saint Paul Mayor Melvin Carter, and Wisconsin Lieutenant Governor Mandela Barnes (listen to the full Great Lakes event here).

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

About Climate MayorsRepresenting over 74 million Americans from 48 states, Climate Mayors is a peer-to-peer network of 467 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

Climate Mayors & the Mayors Innovation Project, Hosts Mayors Rhodes-Conway (Madison) & Carter (St. Paul) & WI Lt. Gov. Barnes for Dialogue About a Sustainable & Just Economic Recovery

The livestream panel was the third 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.

Listen to the full discussion HERE.

September 16, 2020 – Today, Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway, Saint Paul Mayor Melvin Carter, and Wisconsin Lieutenant Governor Mandela Barnes 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 Great Lakes and ways that the panelists have collaborated to advance climate action both locally and nationally.Today’s conversation was the third 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. The discussion was moderated by Paul Robbins, dean of the Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Climate Mayors convened this event in partnership with the Mayors Innovation Project at UW-Madison.“At this moment in history, all mayors must think about how to reinvest in their communities. This creates a tremendous opportunity to invest not in the status quo, but in what we want – communities that are sustainable, resilient, and just,” said Climate Mayors Steering Committee member Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway. “I appreciate Climate Mayors and Mayors Innovation Project creating this opportunity for me to talk with other Midwest leaders, and for leaders across the country to share their ideas and their successes.”“COVID-19 has laid bare the very challenges we’ve fought so hard to overcome for more than a generation, and that’s why it’s critical that we build back better, even stronger, and more resilient communities,” said Climate Mayors Steering Committee member Saint Paul Mayor Melvin Carter. “The ongoing work of Climate Mayors across our nation continues to help all of us realize this vision.”“Over the last several years, cities and states have been leading the way on tackling the climate crisis, and together, we’ve been able to make some significant strides forward,” said Wisconsin Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes. “But as we rebuild our communities and continue to respond to COVID-19, we must ensure that equity and sustainability are driving our recovery efforts, and environmental justice is at the center of this conversation going forward.”The next event in the Climate Mayors series will highlight policies and initiatives undertaken by climate leaders in the Ohio Valley region. A nationally-focused discussion will follow later this fall. 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.“From the public health and economic disparities exposed by the COVID-19 pandemic to unprecedented natural disasters like the wildfires raging across the West, the past year has made clear that we need more sustainable and just systems,” said James Ritchotte, Director of Climate Mayors. “Climate Mayors in the Great Lakes and beyond are committed to implementing innovative solutions that tackle our climate crisis and simultaneously prioritize racial justice, job growth and public health. With the leadership of mayors and other elected officials, cities and states are making the transition to a more green and equitable economy and, with the right support from our federal government to amplify and accelerate existing efforts, we can ensure a more resilient and sustainable country that works better for all of our communities.”Earlier events in the series featured 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 Southeast event here) and Texas leaders Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner, Austin Mayor Steve Adler and San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg (watch the Texas event here).For more Information on upcoming events in Climate Mayors National Dialogue on Green and Equitable Recovery, please visit www.climatemayors.org.

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About Climate MayorsRepresenting 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

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 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