C40 mayors around the United States were eager to support President Obama’s Clean Power Plan, which was finalized Monday and is seen as a key component of the country’s climate commitment for the COP21 climate negotiations at the end of the year.
The new plan is widely lauded by the environmental community as an expression of the country’s leadership on climate change. Here at C40, we’re all about climate action, and we know our mayors – including those located in the United States – play an important role in helping countries around the world achieve their emissions reduction commitments.
Of course, mayors around the world have made a commitment of their own for Paris: the Compact of Mayors is the world’s largest coalition of city leaders addressing climate change through emissions reduction commitments, tracking progress and preparing for the impacts of climate change.
This week, though, C40 mayors in the United States cheered the Clean Power Plan. Houston Mayor Annise Parker and Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti – both members of the C40 Steering Committee and founders of the Mayors National Climate Action Agenda – issued a joint statement:
“We don’t need more debate on climate change from Washington; we need action, and that’s what we’re seeing from President Obama today. Today’s Clean Power Plan will add to the benefits we’re already seeing from our cities’ strong leadership against climate change, including cleaner air and thousands of green jobs.”
Other mayors commenting on the plan included Seattle Mayor Ed Murray, who alluded to the recent meeting between more than 60 mayors and Pope Francis, Portland Mayor Charlie Hales, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, New York Mayor Bill de Blasio, Austin Mayor Steve Adler, and Washington DC Mayor Muriel Bowser.
To read an op ed from C40 Board President and three-term mayor of New York City Michael R. Bloomberg, click here.