Kate Gallego, Mayor of Phoenix, Arizona, USA has been elected as Vice Chair of the C40 Steering Committee, the governing body providing strategic direction for the global network of 97 cities committed to addressing the climate crisis.
Kate Gallego, who has served as Mayor of Phoenix since 2019, is the second elected woman Mayor in Phoenix history and the youngest big-city mayor in the United States. She graduated from Harvard University and earned an MBA from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania. Prior to becoming mayor, Gallego served on the Phoenix City Council and worked on Economic Development for local utility company, Salt River Project.
Mayor Gallego has focused on three key policy areas during her time in office:
- diversifying the economy;
- strengthening infrastructure investment;
- and working to make Phoenix a leader in sustainability.
Her record of proven results includes leading the campaign to pass Phoenix’s citywide transportation plan through 2050, which was the largest local government commitment to transportation infrastructure in the country when it passed in 2015. She has led efforts on criminal justice reform and ensuring equal pay for equal work. Mayor Gallego is passionate about building a Phoenix that works for everyone and increasing the quality of life for all Phoenicians.
In her new role on the C40 Steering Committee, Mayor Gallego will be a leading voice in promoting and advocating for bold and innovative climate action in cities around the world and inspiring change for a better future for all people. As Vice Chair, Mayor Gallego will support the mayors of C40 Cities as they work together to deliver a green and just recovery from the COVID pandemic and address the climate crisis. Mayor Gallego was elected to represent C40’s North America region, encompassing 17 cities in the United States and Canada.
C40’s member cities represent 700 million citizens and one quarter of the world’s economy. Through collaboration and innovation, the mayors of C40 Cities are determined to deliver on the Paris Agreement’s highest ambition and keep global temperature rise to below 1.5 degrees, and to do so in an equitable way.
“The climate challenges of our time demand resourceful, creative, and collaborative leadership,” said Mayor Gallego. “I’m proud to join this global group of mayors on the C40 steering committee to drive action toward our shared vision for a healthy, equitable, and resilient world. I bring with me the unique perspectives and experience of the people of Phoenix and I look forward to exploring new possibilities and sharing best practices with this global cohort.”