The Second US-China Climate City Summit

By Mayors Marty Walsh of Boston, Greg Stanton of Phoenix, and Chris Coleman of St. Paul

As mayors from cities spanning across the United States, we face a vast range of risks from climate change. Whether it’s rising seas, intensifying droughts, or worsening air pollution, we are all seeing the effects of the climate crisis right here in our communities.

Cities account for 70 percent of the world’s total energy related carbon emissions and more than 50 percent of the global population lives in cities. While the problem of climate change is largely concentrated in urban areas, increasingly, solutions are being born there as well. Mayors are closest to the democratic process, giving us a level of power over the biggest sources of emissions in our cities, and we have the flexibility to overcome certain hurdles that burden national leaders. We’re able to act now to implement adaption and mitigation plans on climate change. What’s more, if city leaders work with one another, our local actions can collectively make a difference on a global scale.

That’s why this week, along with other fellow U.S. mayors, we’re traveling to Beijing to meet with mayors from cities across China for the second US-China Climate-Smart/Low-Carbon Cities Summit.

This convening will not only demonstrate the ongoing strength of our cross-continent partnership on climate change but will also broaden our reach when it comes to making a global impact on the climate goals of the Paris Agreement.

Last year, in the lead up to COP21, Mayor Eric Garcetti of Los Angeles hosted the first US-China Climate-Smart/Low-Carbon Cities Summit. There, we saw what joint city action can do. Twenty-four state and local leaders signed the first-of-its-kind “U.S.-China Climate Leaders Declaration” and the “Alliance of Peaking Pioneer Cities” was launched at the Summit as a coalition of Chinese cities committing to peak carbon emissions earlier than China’s national goal of 2030.

This year, as nations look to implement the Paris Agreement, cities are already in position to take climate action now and are ready to do more. This Summit offers an extraordinary opportunity for local governments from both China and the U.S. to explore our shared commitment to climate action as well as expand upon our individual pledges by sharing ideas and best practices.

As local leaders in the two largest countries for greenhouse gas emissions, we’re all too familiar with the effects of rising global temperatures. But we’re ready to build low-carbon, climate resilient communities, and we’re looking to greener, more sustainable pathways to provide a better quality of life for our citizens and for our future citizens.

In Boston, we’re motivated by the Compact of Mayors to continue forward with transparent, data-driven climate action. Last year, we launched Climate Ready Boston — a first-of-its-kind, data and stakeholder driven approach to preparing Boston for the impacts of long-term climate change before the next storm hits. It will not only provide the city with financial damage estimates, such as the cost of repairing homes and businesses, but also the costs to our community, at-risk individuals, economic productivity and social networks. As a Compact compliant city, we want to inspire the business and residential communities to also lead by example and to help mitigate those risks. Greenovate Boston is an award-winning, community-driven movement to get all Bostonians involved in reducing the city’s greenhouse gas emissions 25 perfect by 2020 and 80 percent by 2050, which we’re on pace to achieve.

To reduce carbon emissions in Phoenix, we’re making huge strides in greener transportation. For example, we’ve invested in sixty miles of light rail and one thousand miles of bike lanes to significantly increase public transportation throughout our city. We’re fundamentally changing the look and feel of Phoenix as we transform into a leading sustainable city.

From enhancing storm water management, to increasing bicycling mode shares and adopting sustainable development policies for public and private buildings, Saint Paul is addressing our climate risks head on. We’re improving our air quality as well as our water and urban landscape by championing greener development. Along with our regional partners, we’re standing on the front lines of climate action.

Coalitions of mayors in the U.S. are responding to President Obama’s call to action on climate change.

As a fierce advocate for taking ambitious action to address climate change, President Obama has urged leaders at every level of government to commit to this fight. From working with other countries, to supporting action at the local level, the President is determined to strengthen cooperation because it is our only way forward to truly make a difference.

This Summit is a step in that direction. We’re gathering local leaders to accelerate reductions in both countries from the ground up, where it matters most. Our constituents cannot afford anything less. Increasing coordination amongst both U.S. and Chinese cities will support our work and the work of our national governments to ensure quick and strong implementation of the Paris Agreement. And we will accomplish all of this, together.

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