U.S. Cities Unite With Global Peers to Showcase Emissions Reductions

Key Takeaways

Major cities in the C40 network have cut per-capita emissions by 7.5% from 2015 to 2024.
U.S. mayors are stepping up climate leadership amid federal government withdrawal from international agreements.
Global clean energy investments have surged, reaching $2 trillion since the Paris Agreement.

Report Highlights Climate Action

A recent report by C40 Cities and the Global Covenant of Mayors reveals that nearly 100 cities worldwide have collectively reduced per-capita greenhouse gas emissions by 7.5% from 2015 to 2024. This positive trend is critical as the world faces escalating climate challenges.

In response to the U.S. federal government stepping back from global climate leadership, representatives from C40 Cities, Climate Mayors, the U.S. Climate Alliance, and America Is All In are actively participating in several international climate events this month. Climate Mayors Executive Director Kate Wright emphasized that strong state and local leadership can enable the U.S. to achieve a 54% to 62% reduction in emissions by 2035, even without federal support.

Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego, chair of Climate Mayors, highlighted the unique responsibility cities bear in combating climate change. She stated that mayors can drive effective solutions by collaborating with global local leaders to share innovations and strategies.

The U.S. delegation, including Gallego and Wright, is attending key climate gatherings such as the United Nations Framework on Climate Change’s June Climate Meetings in Bonn, Climate Action Week in London, and the 10-year anniversary of the Paris Agreement. Since the treaty’s implementation, global investments in clean energy have significantly increased, now totaling $2 trillion, according to U.N. Climate Change Executive Secretary Simon Stiell.

In January, President Trump signed an order withdrawing the U.S. from the Paris Agreement, impacting the nation’s role in international climate initiatives. The order suggested that the U.S. had engaged in agreements misaligned with its values and contributions to environmental and economic goals.

Elizabeth Lien, program director for America Is All In, echoed the need for change at the grassroots level. She asserted that collaborative international climate events are vital for fostering cooperation and sharing solutions that advance progress in combating climate change globally.

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