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climatemayors · 7 years

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305 US Climate Mayors commit to adopt, honor and uphold Paris Climate Agreement goals

STATEMENT FROM THE CLIMATE MAYORS IN RESPONSE TO PRESIDENT TRUMP’S WITHDRAWAL FROM THE PARIS CLIMATE AGREEMENT

The President’s denial of global warming is getting a cold reception from America’s cities.

As 305 US Mayors representing 61 million Americans, we will adopt, honor, and uphold the commitments to the goals enshrined in the Paris Agreement. We will intensify efforts to meet each of our cities’ current climate goals, push for new action to meet the 1.5 degrees Celsius target, and work together to create a 21st century clean energy economy.

We will continue to lead. We are increasing investments in renewable energy and energy efficiency. We will buy and create more demand for electric cars and trucks. We will increase our efforts to cut greenhouse gas emissions, create a clean energy economy, and stand for environmental justice. And if the President wants to break the promises made to our allies enshrined in the historic Paris Agreement, we’ll build and strengthen relationships around the world to protect the planet from devastating climate risks.

The world cannot wait — and neither will we.

Signed,

Mayor Eric Garcetti City of Los Angeles, CA

Mayor Martin J Walsh City of Boston, MA

Mayor Bill de Blasio New York City, NY

Mayor Sylvester Turner City of Houston, TX

Mayor Madeline Rogero City of Knoxville, TN

Mayor Rahm Emanuel City of Chicago, IL

Mayor Ed Murray City of Seattle, WA

Mayor Jim Kenney City of Philadelphia, PA

Mayor Kasim Reed City of Atlanta, GA

Mayor Lioneld Jordan City of Fayetteville, AR

Mayor Trish Herrera Spencer City of Alameda, CA

Mayor Kathy Sheehan City of Albany, NY

Mayor Sharon Konopa City of Albany , OR

Mayor Allison Silberberg City of Alexandria, VA

Mayor Ed Pawlowski City of Allentown, PA

Mayor Jeanne Sorg City of Ambler, PA

Mayor Ethan Berkowitz City of Anchorage, AK

Mayor Terence Roberts City of Anderson, SC

Mayor Christopher Taylor City of Ann Arbor, MI

Mayor Van W Johnson City of Apalachicola, FL

Mayor Susan Ornelas City of Arcata, CA

Mayor Peter R Porcino City of Ardsley, NY

Mayor Esther Manheimer City of Asheville, NC

Mayor Steve Skadron City of Aspen, CO

Mayor Steve Patterson City of Athens, OH

Mayor Steve Adler City of Austin, TX

Mayor Catherine E Pugh City of Baltimore , MD

Mayor Gordon T Ringberg City of Bayfield, WI

Mayor Denny Dole City of Beaverton, OR

Mayor Kelli Linville City of Bellingham, WA

Mayor Jesse Arreguin City of Berkeley, CA

Mayor Robert Donchez City of Bethlehem, PA

Mayor Michael P Cahill City of Beverly, MA

Mayor Ben Kessler City of Bexley, OH

Mayor Richard C David City of Binghamton, NY

Mayor William Bell City of Birmingham, AL

Mayor Ron Rordam City of Blacksburg, VA

Mayor John Hamilton City of Bloomington, IN

Mayor Dave Bieter City of Boise, ID

Mayor Suzanne Jones City of Boulder, CO

Mayor Carson Taylor City of Bozeman, MT

Mayor Eric Mamula City of Breckenridge, CO

Mayor Joseph P Ganim City of Bridgeport, CT

Mayor William W Moehle City of Brighton, NY

Mayor Lori S Liu City of Brisbane, CA

Mayor Brenda Hess City of Buchanan, MI

Mayor Byron W Brown City of Buffalo, NY

Mayor Miro Weinberger City of Burlington, VT

Mayor Elizabeth B Kautz City of Burnsville, MN

Mayor E Denise Simmons City of Cambridge, MA

Mayor Edwin Garcia City of Camuy, PR

Mayor Jim Brainard City of Carmel, IN

Mayor Lydia E Lavelle City of Carrboro, NC

Mayor Mike Webb City of Carver, MN

Mayor Deborah Frank Feinen City of Champaign, IL

Mayor Pam Hemminger City of Chapel Hill, NC

Mayor John J Tecklenburg City of Charleston, SC

Mayor Jennifer Roberts City of Charlotte, NC

Mayor Mike Signer City of Charlottesville, VA

Mayor Andy Berke City of Chattanooga, TN

Mayor Chuck Cahn City of Cherry Hill, NJ

Mayor Mary Casillas Salas City of Chula Vista, CA

Mayor Ted Terry City of Clarkston, GA

Mayor Frank G Jackson City of Cleveland, OH

Mayor Brian Treece City of Columbia, MO

Mayor Stephen K Benjamin City of Columbia, SC

Mayor Andrew Ginther City of Columbus, OH

Mayor Rebecca Tooley City of Coconut Creek, FL

Mayor Jeff Katz City of Cooperstown, NY

Mayor Brian Tobin City of Cortland, NY

Mayor Biff Traber City of Corvallis, OR

Mayor Jeffrey Cooper Culver City, CA

Mayor Savita Vaidhyanathan City of Cupertino, CA

Mayor Michael S Rawlings City of Dallas, TX

Mayor Robb Davis City of Davis, CA

Mayor Cary Glickstein City of Delray Beach, FL

Mayor Michael Hancock City of Denver, CO

Mayor T M Franklin Cownie City of Des Moines, IA

Mayor Mike Duggan City of Detroit, MI

Mayor Josh Maxwell City of Downingtown, PA

Mayor Roy D Buol City of Dubuque, IA

Mayor Emily Larson City of Duluth, MN

Mayor William V Bell City of Durham, NC

Mayor Mark Meadows City of East Lansing, MI

Mayor Nancy Tyra-Lukens City of Eden Prairie, MN

Mayor Kris Teegardin City of Edgewater, CO

Mayor Dave Earling City of Edmonds, WA

Mayor Janet Abelson City of El Cerrito, CA

Mayor David Kaptain City of Elgin, IL

Mayor Catherine Blakespear City of Encinitas, CA

Mayor Lucy Vinis City of Eugene, OR

Mayor Stephen H Hagerty City of Evanston, IL

Mayor Ray Stephanson City of Everett, WA

Mayor Edward Malloy City of Fairfield, IA

Mayor Peter Lindstrom City of Falcon Heights, MN

Mayor David Tarter City of Falls Church, VA

Mayor Colleen Mahr City of Fanwood, NJ

Mayor David Coulter City of Ferndale, MI

Mayor Coral J Evans City of Flagstaff, AZ

Mayor Karen Weaver City of Flint, MI

Mayor Wade Troxell City of Fort Collins, CO

Mayor Jack Seiler City of Fort Lauderdale, FL

Mayor Tom Henry City of Fort Wayne, IN

Mayor Bob Scott City of Franklin, NC

Mayor Lily Mei City of Fremont, CA

Mayor Kachen Kimmell City of Gambier, OH

Mayor Karen Freeman-Wilson City of Gary, IN

Mayor Tammy Stempel City of Gladstone, OR

Mayor Bruce J Packer City of Glen Rock, NJ

Mayor Bryan Kennedy City of Glendale, WI

Mayor Sefatia Romeo Theken City of Gloucester, MA

Mayor Rosalynn Bliss City of Grand Rapids, MI

Mayor Nancy Vaughan City of Greensboro, NC

Mayor Knox H White City of Greenville, SC

Mayor Samuel Henderson City of Gulfport, FL

Mayor Joy Cooper City of Hallandale Beach, FL

Mayor Karen Majewski City of Hamtramck, MI

Mayor Luke Bronin City of Hartford, CT

Mayor Peter Swiderski City of Hastings-on-Hudson, NY

Mayor Harry Kim City of Hawai’i , HI

Mayor Barbara Halliday City of Hayward, CA

Mayor Shaun McCaffery City of Healdsburg, CA

Mayor Gayle Brill Mittler City of Highland Park, NJ

Mayor Nancy R Rotering City of Highland Park, IL

Mayor Patrick Taylor City of Highlands, NC

Mayor Tom Stevens City of Hillsborough, NC

Mayor Dawn Zimmer City of Hoboken, NJ

Mayor Josh Levy City of Hollywood, FL

Mayor Alex B Morse City of Holyoke, MA

Mayor Paul Blackburn City of Hood River, OR

Mayor Candace B Hollingsworth City of Hyattsville, MD

Mayor Jim Throgmorton Iowa City , IA

Mayor Svante Myrick City of Ithaca, NY

Mayor Pete Muldoon City of Jackson , WY

Mayor Steven M Fulop Jersey City, NJ

Mayor Bobby J Hopewell City of Kalamazoo, MI

Mayor Sly James Kansas City, MO

Mayor Nina Jonas City of Ketchum, ID

Mayor Steven T Noble City of Kingston, NY

Mayor Jose Alvarez City of Kissimmee, FL

Mayor Tim Kabat City of La Crosse, WI

Mayor Christine Berg City of Lafayette, CO

Mayor Michael Summers City of Lakewood, OH

Mayor Adam Paul City of Lakewood, CO

Mayor J Richard Gray City of Lancaster, PA

Mayor Virg Bernero City of Lansing, MI

Mayor William Sprague City of Lapeer, MI

Mayor Richard J Kaplan City of Lauderhill, FL

Mayor Leslie Soden City of Lawrence, KS

Mayor Theodore W Becker City of Lewes, DE

Mayor Mark Stodola City of Little Rock, AR

Mayor Robert Garcia City of Long Beach, CA

Mayor Adam Schneider City of Long Branch, NJ

Mayor Dennis Coombs City of Longmont, CO

Mayor Mary Prochnow City of Los Altos, CA

Mayor Gary Waldeck City of Los Altos Hills, CA

Mayor Marico Sayoc City of Los Gatos, CA

Mayor Greg Fischer City of Louisville, KY

Mayor Robert Reichert City of Macon-Bibb County, GA

Mayor Paul R Soglin City of Madison, WI

Mayor Gary Christenson City of Malden, MA

Mayor Skylar Peak City of Malibu, CA

Mayor Barry Greenberg City of Maplewood , MO

Mayor Stephanie M Burke City of Medford, MA

Mayor Kirsten Keith City of Menlo Park, CA

Mayor Tomas Regalado City of Miami, FL

Mayor Philip Levine City of Miami Beach, FL

Mayor Gurdip Brar City of Middleton, WI

Mayor Daniel Drew City of Middletown, CT

Mayor Sean Strub City of Milford, PA

Mayor Benjamin G Blake City of Milford , CT

Mayor Reuben D Holober City of Millbrae, CA

Mayor Jeff Silvestrini City of Millcreek, UT

Mayor Tom Barrett City of Milwaukee, WI

Mayor Mark Gamba City of Milwaukie, OR

Mayor Betsy Hodges City of Minneapolis, MN

Mayor Wayne Messam City of Miramar, FL

Mayor John Engen City of Missoula, MT

Mayor Mary O’Connor City of Monona, WI

Mayor John Hollar City of Montpelier, VT

Mayor Timothy Dougherty City of Morristown, NJ

Mayor Jamie Irons City of Morro Bay , CA

Mayor Arlene Burns City of Mosier, OR

Mayor Fred Courtright City of Mount Pocono, PA

Mayor Ken Rosenberg City of Mountain View, CA

Mayor Jill Techel City of Napa, CA

Mayor Jim Donchess City of Nashua, NH

Mayor Megan Barry City of Nashville, TN

Mayor Jon Mitchell City of New Bedford, MA

Mayor Toni N Harp City of New Haven, CT

Mayor Mitch Landrieu City of New Orleans, LA

Mayor Tim Rogers City of New Paltz, NY

Mayor Ras J Baraka City of Newark, NJ

Mayor Donna D Holaday City of Newburyport, MA

Mayor Setti Warren City of Newton, MA

Mayor Paul Dyster City of Niagara Falls, NY

Mayor Chris Koos City of Normal, IL

Mayor Connie Leon-Kreps City of North Bay Village, FL

Mayor Francis M Womack City of North Brunswick, NJ

Mayor Smith Joseph City of North Miami, FL

Mayor David J Narkewicz City of Northampton, MA

Mayor Jennifer White City of Nyack, NY

Mayor Libby Schaaf City of Oakland, CA

Mayor Cheryl Selby City of Olympia, WA

Mayor Buddy Dyer City of Orlando, FL

Mayor Victoria Gearity City of Ossining, NY

Mayor Greg Scharff City of Palo Alto, CA

Mayor Jack Thomas Park City, UT

Mayor Donald Grebien City of Pawtucket, RI

Mayor David Glass City of Petaluma, CA

Mayor Greg Stanton City of Phoenix, AZ

Mayor Cindy S Perry City of Pittsboro, NC

Mayor William Peduto City of Pittsburgh, PA

Mayor Kurt R Metzger City of Pleasant Ridge, MI

Mayor Lamar Fisher City of Pompano Beach, FL

Mayor Ethan Strimling City of Portland, ME

Mayor Ted Wheeler City of Portland, OR

Mayor Jack Blalock City of Portsmouth, NH

Mayor Liz Lempert City of Princeton, NJ

Mayor Jorge O Elorza City of Providence, RI

Mayor Nancy McFarlane City of Raleigh, NC

Mayor Donald Terry City of Rancho Cordova, CA

Mayor John Marchione City of Redmond, WA

Mayor John Seybert Redwood City, CA

Mayor Hillary Schieve City of Reno, NV

Mayor Tom Butt City of Richmond, CA

Mayor Levar Stoney City of Richmond, VA

Mayor Lovely Warren City of Rochester, NY

Mayor Daniel Guzzi City of Rockwood, MI

Mayor Mike Fournier City of Royal Oak, MI

Mayor Darrell Steinberg City of Sacramento, CA

Mayor Alan Galbraith City of Saint Helena, CA

Mayor Christopher Coleman City of Saint Paul, MN

Mayor Kim Driscoll City of Salem, MA

Mayor Chuck Bennett City of Salem, OR

Mayor Jacob Day City of Salisbury, MD

Mayor Jackie Biskupski Salt Lake City, UT

Mayor Bob Grassilli City of San Carlos, CA

Mayor Kevin Faulconer City of San Diego, CA

Mayor Ed Lee City of San Francisco, CA

Mayor Sam Liccardo City of San Jose, CA

Mayor Pauline Russo Cutter City of San Leandro, CA

Mayor Heidi Harmon City of San Luis Obispo, CA

Mayor John Thomaides City of San Marcos, TX

Mayor Miguel Pulido City of Santa Ana, CA

Mayor Helene Schneider City of Santa Barbara, CA

Mayor Lisa M Gillmor City of Santa Clara, CA

Mayor Javier M Gonzales City of Santa Fe, NM

Mayor Ted Winterer City of Santa Monica, CA

Mayor Chris Coursey City of Santa Rosa, CA

Mayor Joanne D Yepsen City of Saratoga Springs, NY

Mayor Chris Lain City of Savanna, IL

Mayor Michael J Gonnelli City of Secaucus, NJ

Mayor George Van Dusen City of Skokie, IL

Mayor Scott A Saunders City of Smithville, TX

Mayor Matt Larson City of Snoqualmie, WA

Mayor Joe Curtatone City of Somerville, MA

Mayor Pete Buttigieg City of South Bend, IN

Mayor Philip K Stoddard City of South Miami, FL

Mayor Domenic J Sarno City of Springfield, MA

Mayor Lyda Krewson City of St Louis, MO

Mayor Len Pagano City of St Peters, MO

Mayor Rick Kriseman City of St Petersburg, FL

Mayor David Martin City of Stamford, CT

Mayor Elizabeth Goreham City of State College, PA

Mayor Michael Tubbs City of Stockton, CA

Mayor Glenn Hendricks City of Sunnyvale, CA

Mayor Michael J Ryan City of Sunrise, FL

Mayor Daniel E Dietch City of Surfside, FL

Mayor Timothy P Kearney City of Swarthmore, PA

Mayor Stephanie A Miner City of Syracuse, NY

Mayor Marilyn Strickland City of Tacoma, WA

Mayor Kate Stewart City of Takoma Park, MD

Mayor Andrew Gillum City of Tallahassee, FL

Mayor Bob Buckhorn City of Tampa, FL

Mayor Drew Fixell City of Tarrytown, NY

Mayor Sean Murphy City of Telluride, CO

Mayor Mark Mitchell City of Tempe, AZ

Mayor Paula Hicks-Hudson City of Toledo, OH

Mayor Patrick J. Furey City of Torrance, CA

Mayor Jim Carruthers Traverse City, MI

Mayor Eric E Jackson City of Trenton, NJ

Mayor Jonathan Rothschild City of Tucson, AZ

Mayor Brian Stack Union City, NJ

Mayor Shelley Welsch University City, MO

Mayor Diane W Marlin City of Urbana, IL

Mayor Dave Chapin City of Vail, CO

Mayor Muriel Bowser City of Washington, D.C.

Mayor Oscar Rios City of Watsonville, CA

Mayor Shari G Cantor City of West Hartford, CT

Mayor Edward O’Brien City of West Haven, CT

Mayor John Heilman City of West Hollywood, CA

Mayor John Dennis City of West Lafayette, IN

Mayor Jeri Muoio City of West Palm Beach, FL

Mayor Christopher Cabaldon City of West Sacramento, CA

Mayor Daniel Corona City of West Wendover, NV

Mayor Daniel J Stermer City of Weston, FL

Mayor Thomas M Roach City of White Plains, NY

Mayor Ryan Reynolds City of Whitney Point, NY

Mayor Debora Fudge City of Windsor, CA

Mayor Allen Joines City of Winston Salem, NC

Mayor Angel Barajas City of Woodland, CA

Mayor Joseph M Petty City of Worcester, MA

Mayor Mike Spano City of Yonkers, NY

Mayor Amanda Maria Edmonds City of Ypsilanti, MI

Updated signatories as of 10:30am PT on June 15, 2017

#paris climate agreement #climate mayors #trump #cities #global warming

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climatemayors · 8 years

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Our Letter to the President - April 2016

April 15, 2016

President Barack Obama The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. Washington, DC 20500

Dear President Obama,

As mayors committed to leading the fight against climate change, we believe the recent Aliso Canyon gas leak has pointed out the challenges facing communities where similar oil and gas infrastructure is found. Each of our cities shares concerns about these facilities, including health and safety, as well as the methane released from natural gas and oil production, consumption, storage, and transport.

We have come together through the Mayors’ National Climate Action Agenda (MNCAA) to support action on climate change. Given that methane is a potent, short lived climate pollutant--84 times more potent than carbon dioxide in the short-term—we write to you today.

First, thank you for your March 10 commitment to ensuring that the U.S. EPA moves forward expeditiously on rules to limit methane emissions from new sources, per your commitment last summer, and critically, from existing sources of oil and gas production infrastructure. This action is vitally important as we need rules that address methane leaks throughout the entire life-cycle of oil and gas, including both production and consumption.

Such rules would not only have a climate benefit, but they would reduce the costly waste of energy resources. These rules would also serve to cut the toxic soup of air contaminants that are released alongside methane not just from oil and gas production, but from their transportation and storage as well. This is a risk that threatens every city.

However, the climate benefits from these rules can be undermined by lack of oversight elsewhere in the value chain, and lagging advancement of renewable energy and alternative forms of storage of energy. Therefore, we are asking for your leadership in rapidly addressing these issues in two additional ways:

1. Direct the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) to add regulation of oil and gas storage facilities along with interstate pipelines.

To date, storage facilities and interstate transportation infrastructure have been overlooked. The risk of such a gap in oversight has been highlighted most recently by the disaster at Aliso Canyon in Los Angeles where a gaswell leaked more methane than ever experienced in the United States and led to the emergency relocation of over 5,000 residents in the neighboring communities. Most leaks aren’t as big as Aliso Canyon, but they add up to a much larger problem in aggregate.

2. Research energy storage technologies to pair with renewables.

We ask that you enlist the expertise of the Department of Energy to study alternatives for existing natural gas storage facilities. Namely, we propose a redoubled emphasis on energy storage technologies, including battery storage, pumped hydro storage, and compressed air storage among other methods, which can make intermittent renewable energy production technologies more viable throughout the day. This technology would allow for the continued use of existing infrastructure, but serve as a much safer and cleaner strategy for addressing peak energy demand in comparison to natural gas-fired generation. Financing should also be made available to cities to help them move buildings and homes toward clean technologies such as battery storage paired with grid-tied solar installations.

Thankfully, in the wake of the leak at Aliso Canyon, U.S. Secretary of Energy Moniz announced on April 1 the Interagency Task Force on Natural Gas Storage Safety. We ask for your support in ensuring the task force addresses both these matters, and other related issues they identify. Please know we stand ready to help support and contribute to the work of the task force if and as possible.

We understand that our economy will continue to rely on fossil fuels for the near future. However, the oil and gas industry must not imperil our air quality, our public health, and our climate through leaks and venting. The public relies on all of us to make decisions that protect their health and welfare.

Sincerely,

Mayor Eric Garcetti City of Los Angeles

Mayor Steve Skadron City of Aspen

Mayor Steve Adler City of Austin

Mayor Tom Bates City of Berkeley

Mayor Suzanne Jones City of Boulder

Mayor Rahm Emanuel Mayor of Chicago

Mayor Michael Hancock City of Denver

Mayor Muriel Bowser District of Columbia

Mayor Sly James City of Kansas City

Mayor Bill de Blasio City of New York

Mayor Libby Shaaf City of Oakland

Mayor Charlie Hales City of Portland

cc: Gina McCarthy, Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Anthony Foxx, Secretary of U.S. Department of Transportation Ernest Moniz, Secretary of U.S. Department of Energy Marie Therese Dominguez, Administrator of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation

#climatemayors

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climatemayors · 8 years

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#ClimateMayors is now 66 Mayors strong. In the final push before the UN climate talks in Paris, share this video and tell your Mayor to join us!

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climatemayors · 8 years

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U.S. MAYORS BACK BOLD CLIMATE ACTION IN PARIS

LOS ANGELES, CA. – The founders of the Mayors’ National Climate Action Agenda (MNCAA) -- L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti, Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter, and Houston Mayor Annise Parker -- joined more than 60 mayors in issuing a video and statement today that backs “the strongest possible” international agreement to curb greenhouse gas emissions.

"Reaching a strong deal in Paris starts with us," said Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti. "Cities are responsible for 70 percent of greenhouse gas emissions, and around the world mayors are leading the way in fighting climate change and creating more sustainable, livable communities." Advocacy group Environment America produced the video in coordination with MNCAA, a domestic initiative designed to demonstrate the essential role of cities in climate change solutions and build political will for U.S. leadership. MNCAA launched their #ClimateMayors social media campaign on the eve of the final 100 days to the start of the UN climate talks in Paris which start on November 30. The video, which encourages more cities to join with their fellow #ClimateMayors, comes as mayors plan to join other leaders next week in Paris for the 21stConference of Parties, or COP21, where it’s hoped an international plan can be crafted to aggressively cut pollution and spur faster development of clean energy sources such as wind and solar. According to the United Nations Human Settlement Program, cities are home to half the world’s population, and create the bulk of the world’s global warming pollution. From rising seas to wildfires to drought, mayors and other local officials are also often on the front lines of global warming’s most negative impacts. “Cities are not only feeling the problem, they’re part of the problem,” Houston Mayor Annise Parker says in the video. “But cities can be part of the solution,” continues Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter in the video, which also includes activists calling for bold climate action in multiple languages. In the letter to be delivered to the White House, the founders of MNCAA along with 63 other mayors said, “cities across the country are already taking the lead,” and have reached national pollution reduction targets ahead of state and national governments.” “But,” the mayors wrote, “we cannot act alone. We need the federal government to provide a path forward to making meaningful reductions in carbon pollution while preparing for the impacts of climate change.” The push from the mayors comes as Congress continues its assault on the federal limits on carbon pollution from power plants that are the centerpiece of President Obama’s Climate Action Plan. Last week the full Senate and a key House committee voted to repeal the Clean Power Plan, and a full vote in the House is expected next week. While the Clean Power Plan is expected to survive these attacks, opponents to climate action have made clear their aim is to undermine the President’s negotiating authority in Paris. The mayors wrote in their letter, however, that the congressional attacks didn’t reflect the posture of most Americans on the threat of global warming. Leading up to COP21, more than 150 countries making up more than 90 percent of the world’s climate pollution have pledged pollution reductions. Scientists say worldwide greenhouse gas pollution must be cut upwards of 80 percent to avoid the most devastating impacts of climate change.

“We urge world leaders to chart a course for 100 percent clean energy to solve the climate crisis,” said Madeline Page, outreach director for Environment America’s Global Warming Solutions program. “And it’s inspiring to see mayors from across the U.S representing millions of Americans pushing President Obama to lead the way to a bold climate agreement.”

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#ClimateMayors ClimateChange COP21

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climatemayors · 9 years

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MAYORS LAUD PRESIDENT’S ‘CLEAN POWER PLAN’

Mayor Eric Garcetti and Houston Mayor Annise Parker -- who co-founded the Mayors National Climate Action Agenda with Mayor Michael Nutter of Philadelphia -- issued the following statement regarding the President's Clean Power Plan that was released today: "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," Mayors Garcetti and Parker said. "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." The Mayors National Climate Action Agenda, which is now 28 mayors-strong, recently called on President Obama for strong federal action on climate change in the face of Congressional gridlock and for strong leadership by the US at the upcoming UN climate change negotiations in Paris (scroll down to see an earlier post of the MNCAA’s call on the President). Mayors Garcetti and Parker noted that cities are on the front lines when it comes to the effects of climate change and responding to them, including extreme heat and weather, sea level rise and drought. Cities are also generate 70 percent of the nation's greenhouse gas emissions. To make Los Angeles a leader in showing the path forward against climate change, Mayor Garcetti set a target of reducing Los Angeles' greenhouse gas emissions by 80 percent by 2050. He has also committed to making LADWP coal free, which in the wake of the city's recent divestment from the coal-powered Navajo Generating Station, is now on track to happen by 2025. Mayor Garcetti's agenda, which also includes aggressive solar power and green building targets, is detailed in the city's first-ever Sustainable City pLAn (see: plan.lamayor.org). To make Houston a leader against climate change, Mayor Parker is on track to meet a near-term goal of reducing the City of Houston’s greenhouse gas emissions by 42 percent by 2016. She also set a long-term reductions goal of 80 percent by 2050. Mayor Parker is committed to continuing Houston’s leadership as the largest municipal purchaser of renewable energy in the nation, with 50 percent of the City’s energy coming from renewable sources and a 30 MW solar project soon to be approved. The City of Houston is also implementing the largest LED streetlight conversion in the nation, helping the City meet stringent energy efficiency goals. Mayor Garcetti also announced today that he has appointed Lauren Faber as Deputy Chief Sustainability Officer to help drive implementation of the Sustainable City pLAn, advance the climate policies in the pLAn, pursue additional funding for programs like the recent CARB grant for EV car sharing in disadvantaged communities, and other priorities. She joins the Garcetti Administration from the Environmental Defense Fund where she served as West Coast Political Director. She was previously with the California Environmental Protection Agency and the British Embassy in Washington, DC. Lauren will report to the Mayor's Chief Sustainability Officer, Matt Petersen. Mayors Parker and Garcetti serve on the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group global steering committee and represented Houston and Los Angeles on President Obama’s Task Force on Climate Preparedness and Resilience. Mayor Garcetti also recently announced that Los Angeles will host the US China Low Carbon Cities Summit later this year. ###

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climatemayors · 9 years

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Joint Statement from LA & Houston Mayors on Climate/Vatican

Mayor Eric Garcetti and Houston Mayor Annise Parker, who co-founded the Mayors National Climate Change Agenda (MNCAA) along with Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter, issued the following statement as Mayors from around the world gathered for the Vatican's symposium on climate change and modern slavery hosted by the Pontifical Academies of Sciences and Social Sciences. MNCAA Mayors attending the symposium include Boulder Mayor Matt Appelbaum and San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee. The symposium follows Pope Francis' encyclical calling for action against climate change and in advance of the UN climate conference in Paris where world leaders will convene to negotiate a new international agreement to combat climate change. "Mayors are on the front lines when climate change causes drought, incites extreme weather, and erodes our coastlines. We need the world's leaders to think like mayors and share our sense of urgency in negotiating a bold climate change agreement," Mayors Garcetti and Parker said in a joint statement. "We are proud to join those mayors who are gathered at the Vatican in signing the Papal declaration for action on climate change and urge our nation's mayors to continue leading the way. We must lead in the face of federal inaction."

In a letter delivered to the White House last month, the Mayors National Climate Action Agenda directly called upon President Obama to fight for the strongest possible climate agreement at the UN climate conference and announced it is launching a campaign to support the President and the U.S. delegation to the conference in pushing for strong action on climate change (SEE EARLIER BLOG POSTS BELOW). This fall, Mayor Garcetti will host U.S. and Chinese mayors and other sub-national leaders in Los Angeles for the U.S.-China Climate-Smart/Low-Carbon Cities Summit, an outcome of the landmark climate change agreement announced by U.S. President Barack Obama and China President Xi Jinping last fall in Beijing. The agreement between Presidents Obama and Xi includes new targets for carbon emissions and reductions by the United States and a first-ever commitment by China to stop its emissions from growing by 2030. It also launched the Climate-Smart/Low-Carbon Cities Initiative to respond to growing urbanization and increasingly significant greenhouse gas emissions from cities. The summit will mark the first effort of that initiative and will bring together local leaders from both countries for a multiple-day conference featuring a high-level plenary at which leaders declare their resolve, ambition, and actions; working level technical exchanges to share experience and best practices; and an exhibition to engage the private sector. The Mayors National Climate Action Agenda includes:

Ann Arbor Mayor Christopher Taylor

Aspen Mayor Steve Skadron

Austin Mayor Steve Adler

Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed

Berkeley Mayor Tom Bates

Boulder Mayor Matt Appelbaum

Charlotte Mayor Dan Clodfelter

Columbus Mayor Michael Coleman

Denver Mayor Michael Hancock

Fort Collins Mayor Wade Troxell

Houston Mayor Annise Parker

Kansas City Mayor Sly James

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti

Minneapolis Mayor Betsy Hodges

Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf

Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer

Park City Mayor Jack Thomas

Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter

Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton

Portland Mayor Charlie Hales

Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker

San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee

San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo

Santa Monica Mayor Kevin McKeown

Seattle Mayor Ed Murray

Somerville Mayor Joe Curtatone

Tacoma Mayor Marilyn Strickland

The work of the Mayors National Climate Action Agenda in the U.S. is complemented at the international level by the Compact of Mayors, a global cooperative effort among mayors and city officials committed to reducing local greenhouse gas emissions, enhancing resilience to climate change, and tracking progress transparently. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, his Special Envoy Michael R. Bloomberg, and city networks including ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability (ICLEI), C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group (C40) and United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG) are working together to highlight and engage cities in the lead up to the UN climate conference, known as COP21. In the United States, the efforts of the Urban Sustainability Directors Network has been important in advancing MNCAA, including through the USDN-led Carbon Neutral Cities Alliance. Connect with the Mayors National Climate Action Agenda at: www.facebook.com/climatemayors @climatemayors ###

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climatemayors · 9 years

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The President Heard Our Call!

"Special Assistant to the President and Deputy Director of Intergovernmental Affairs at the White House Rogan Patel told the U.S. Conference of Mayors June 19 that the administration is looking to U.S. mayors to support the Clean Power Plan, particularly since many of them are leading the effort to address climate change in the country. 27 mayors outlined the Mayors National Climate Action Agenda in a June 18 letter to President Obama calling on the administration to negotiate a strong global climate agreement in Paris at the end of the year as well as for federal action to establish binding national greenhouse gas emission limits."

http://www.natlawreview.com/article/energy-and-environmental-law-update-june-22-2015

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climatemayors · 9 years

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Mayors Call on President for Climate Action in US, At Paris Conference

Mayors National Climate Action Agenda Now Includes 27 Cities

Like and Follow Us: fb.com/ClimateMayors - @ClimateMayors

JUNE 18 -- The Mayors National Climate Action Agenda today called on President Obama to fight for the strongest possible climate agreement at the upcoming 21st Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP21) in Paris, and for federal action to establish binding national greenhouse gas emissions reductions in the United States.

The nationwide coalition of mayors also announced it is launching a campaign to support the President and the U.S. delegation in Paris in pushing for strong action on climate change.

The Mayors National Climate Action Agenda made its call and committed to its campaign of support in a letter delivered to the White House today. Houston Mayor Annise Parker announced the letter at a climate change action event hosted by San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee in his city on the eve of the annual meeting of the U.S. Conference of Mayors there.

Mayor Parker co-founded the Mayors National Climate Action Agenda with Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti and Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter. The three Mayors represent the largest cities on the Presidential Task Force on Climate Preparedness and Resilience.

“The time for strong U.S. action is now. We look forward to standing with you here at home and in Paris to bring leadership and focus to the reality of climate change and to urge national dialogue and action,” the letter stated. “We are writing to call on you to act in the best interests of the American people and fight for the strongest possible climate agreement. The United States can and should be the leader in the transition to a clean energy economy.

“Cities across the country are already taking the lead. But we cannot act alone. We need the federal government to provide a path forward to making meaningful reductions in carbon pollution while preparing for the impacts of climate change.

“To support your leadership and assist you and the U.S. delegation in reaching the strongest possible agreement, we are launching a campaign today to engage with our constituents, elected officials and other stakeholders to help achieve … strong outcomes at the national and international levels, while building on municipal leadership on climate change.

“Momentum is building for international coordination. COP21 represents a prime opportunity for American leadership. We recognize that local governments have a major role to play in reducing greenhouse gas levels. We are encouraged that there is interest on the part of COP 21 for having language in the final agreement that specifically pertains to cities.”

The Mayors National Climate Action Agenda also announced today it now includes:

· Ann Arbor Mayor Christopher Taylor

· Aspen Mayor Steve Skadron

· Austin Mayor Steve Adler

· Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed

· Berkeley Mayor Tom Bates

· Boulder Mayor Matt Appelbaum

· Charlotte Mayor Dan Clodfelter

· Columbus Mayor Michael Coleman

· Denver Mayor Michael Hancock

· Fort Collins Mayor Wade Troxell

· Houston Mayor Annise Parker

· Kansas City Mayor Sly James

· Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti

· Minneapolis Mayor Betsy Hodges

· Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf

· Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer

· Park City Mayor Jack Thomas

· Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter

· Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton

· Portland Mayor Charlie Hales

· Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker

· San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee

· San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo

· Santa Monica Mayor Kevin McKeown

· Seattle Mayor Ed Murray

· Somerville Mayor Joe Curtatone

· Tacoma Mayor Marilyn Strickland

The work of the Mayors National Climate Action Agenda in the U.S. is complemented at the international level by the Compact of Mayors, a global cooperative effort among mayors and city officials committed to reducing local greenhouse gas emissions, enhancing resilience to climate change, and tracking progress transparently. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, his Special Envoy Michael R. Bloomberg, and city networks including ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability (ICLEI), C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group (C40) and United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG) are working together to highlight and engage cities in the lead up to COP21. In the United States, the efforts of the Urban Sustainability Directors Network has been important in advancing MNCAA, including through the USDN-led Carbon Neutral Cities Alliance.

Please see the letter below, in previous post.

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climatemayors · 9 years

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Our Letter to the President

June 18, 2015

President Barack Obama

The White House

1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.

Washington, DC 20500

Dear Mr. President:

As Mayors of 27 cities representing almost 20 million people, we write to thank you for your leadership on climate mitigation and resilience. As you said in your State of the Union speech, “No challenge poses a greater threat to future generations than climate change.”

We are writing to call on you to act in the best interests of the American people and fight for the strongest possible climate agreement at the upcoming 21st Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP21) in Paris, and for federal action to establish binding national greenhouse gas emissions reductions here at home. The United States can and should be the leader in the transition to a clean energy economy.

To support your leadership and assist you and the U.S. delegation in reaching the strongest possible agreement, we are launching a campaign today to engage with our constituents, elected officials and other stakeholders to help achieve these strong outcomes at the national and international levels, while building on municipal leadership on climate change.

As Mayors, we understand that we are stronger working together. That is why we have come together and created the Mayors National Climate Action Agenda (MNCAA) to help lead the way to a solution to global climate change. A changing and variable climate has tremendous implications for the livability, competitiveness and resilience of communities across the country. The extreme weather events we have all increasingly experienced in recent years and the future projections we face make it clear that we all share a common risk and commitment to safeguarding our communities.

The MNCAA is a mayor-to-mayor initiative to raise the collective voice of leading mayors, demonstrate the essential role of cities in working towards climate solutions, and build political will for U.S. leadership. This initiative, established by the Mayors of Houston, Los Angeles and Philadelphia, includes the undersigned, and will continue to grow. The negotiations in Paris will be as challenging as they are critical to our cities’ environmental health and economic prosperity.

Cities across the country are already taking the lead. The cities we represent are working to take responsible steps to curb emissions and plan for the changing climate. Many of our cities have reached Kyoto commitments far ahead of states and the national government, and cities across the country are committing to binding targets, creating standardized inventories and climate action plans and laying the ground work for a municipal offset protocol. But we cannot act alone. We need the federal government to provide a path forward to making meaningful reductions in carbon pollution while preparing for the impacts of climate change.

Despite the dangerous/irresponsible stalemate in Congress, climate change is not a policy debate in communities all across the United States. The effects of a changing climate are presenting a clear and present threat. Extreme weather is presenting itself more regularly, though it takes many forms—from droughts in the west, wildfires in the intermountain states, to flooding and snow storms in the east and coastal erosion in the Gulf states.

Momentum is building for international coordination. COP21 represents a prime opportunity for American leadership. We recognize that local governments have a major role to play in reducing greenhouse gas levels. We are encouraged that there is interest on the part of COP 21 for having language in the final agreement that specifically pertains to cities.

The time for strong U.S. action is now. We look forward to standing with you here at home and in Paris to bring leadership and focus to the reality of climate change and to urge national dialogue and action.

Sincerely,

ANN ARBOR MAYOR CHRISTOPHER TAYLOR

ASPEN MAYOR STEVE SKADRON

AUSTIN MAYOR STEVE ADLER

ATLANTA MAYOR KASIM REED

BERKELEY MAYOR TOM BATES

BOULDER MAYOR MATT APPELBAUM

CHARLOTTE MAYOR DAN CLODFELTER

COLUMBUS MAYOR MICHAEL COLEMAN

DENVER MAYOR MICHAEL HANCOCK

FORT COLLINS MAYOR WADE TROXELL

HOUSTON MAYOR ANNISE PARKER

KANSAS CITY MAYOR SLY JAMES

LOS ANGELES MAYOR ERIC GARCETTI

MINNEAPOLIS MAYOR BETSY HODGES

OAKLAND MAYOR LIBBY SCHAAF

ORLANDO MAYOR BUDDY DYER

PARK CITY MAYOR JACK THOMAS

PHILADELPHIA MAYOR MICHAEL NUTTER

PHOENIX MAYOR GREG STANTON

PORTLAND MAYOR CHARLIE HALES

SALT LAKE CITY MAYOR RALPH BECKER

SAN FRANCISCO MAYOR ED LEE

SAN JOSE MAYOR SAM LICCARDO

SANTA MONICA MAYOR KEVIN MCKEOWN

SEATTLE MAYOR ED MURRAY

SOMERVILLE MAYOR JOE CURTATONE

TACOMA MAYOR MARILYN STRICKLAND

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