Gene Karpinski: “Mayors Across the World are Setting the Tone for Climate Action”

by Gene Karpinski, President of League of Conservation Voters

Last Friday, after I got off the plane in Paris for COP21 — the UN Climate Change Conference — I headed straight to the Climate Summit for Local Leaders. At the City Hall of Paris, Mayor Anne Hidalgo and Special Envoy Michael Bloomberg brought together local leaders with the hopes of elevating city, local government and community voices in the negotiations to reduce carbon emissions.

Spending a night with these leaders was a special treat, and I think it really set the tone for the second week of Paris.

My sense is that one very key ingredient to the success of these types of gatherings is the mood, the momentum, and the level of positive versus negative energy in the rooms.

The mood in Copenhagen was glum and negative. The mood here in Paris is (mostly) optimistic and positive.

And I genuinely believe that the gathering of mayors and other key players at the Bloomberg event was a key factor in setting that tone. There was a very strong sense of “we can do this; we are making this work in our city.” Forever etched in my mind will be that great image of so many mayors lined up on the steps, their faces beaming with pride in their commitments and their accomplishments.

And that “can do” spirit has carried over to the rest of this week, with many panels of subnationals — mayors, governors, etc. — telling their success stories and outlining their ambitious goals. With cities accounting for 70 percent of global emissions, the commitment that 15 percent of the world’s largest cities have made — to cut emissions by 70 percent by 2050 — is inspiring.

For a DC junkie like me, it was also a special treat to see the delegation of U.S. senators use the Bloomberg event as their platform to make the case that the United States can meet its ambitious goals, despite the intense fossil fuel opposition back home.