As U.S. mayors gather in Washington D.C. for the U.S. Conference of Mayors Winter Meeting they sent a clear message that they will continue to take bold action in their cities to tackle the climate crisis head-on, with or without federal support.
Mayor of Phoenix Greg Stanton and Mayor of Atlanta Kasim Reed called upon their fellow U.S. mayors to reaffirm or initiate a commitment to the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy and work together for a cleaner, safer, more prosperous future.
“The science hasn’t changed. The urgency hasn’t changed,” said Mayor of Boston and C40 Vice Chair Martin J. Walsh. “As mayors of cities at the frontlines of climate change, we have a continued responsibility to carry forward solutions – even more so today than yesterday.”
C40 mayors Eric Garcetti of Los Angeles, Ed Lee of San Francisco and Steve Adler of Austin gathered for a photo with fellow U.S. mayors. Photo by Cate Jackson/Nexus Media
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A special report released by C40 identifies the critical role of leadership from cities in the United States on climate change. U.S. cities, the report finds, can contribute more than 1/3 of the emissions reductions needed to meet the United States' Paris Agreement target. With some of the world’s highest per capita greenhouse gas emissions, there is a great challenge ahead for U.S. cities, but also great opportunity. Delivering climate action will yield wide-ranging benefits to the U.S., including $506 billion of investment in transport infrastructure, creating many jobs and improving urban infrastructure for millions of citizens.
Indeed, U.S. cities are some of the most collaborative and most active in the C40 network, and, as evidenced again and again, they have shown their appetite and momentum to lead the U.S. to fulfill its commitment to a climate-safe world. As centers of innovation, U.S. cities will continue to promote climate action and progress and will work together with domestic and global partners to create catalytic action at the local level.
To read the full report How U.S. Cities will Get the Job Done, click here.
To join the 66 mayors who signed an Open Letter calling on Donald Trump to embrace the Paris Climate Agreement contact info@climate-mayors.org.