Climate change is the defining crisis of our time. The world now regularly experiences numerous extreme, weather-related “100-year” events. Hurricanes, heat waves, floods, and droughts are devastating homes, destroying infrastructure, and taking lives in cities around the world. We know that climate change is driven by human activity and that it can be addressed by human action—but the climate crisis is facing a crisis of leadership at the national level. However, cities have the capabilities and the political will to act.
The North American Climate Summit, held in Chicago on December 4–5, 2017, brought together more than 50 cities drawn from 10 countries, representing more than 60 million people, to formulate a climate action plan. In the first major climate conference since President Donald Trump announced his plan to withdraw from the Paris Agreement, mayors from across North America signed the Chicago Climate Charter. We committed to carbon-reduction goals that are at least as ambitious as our nations’ commitments. The summit was not about symbolism; it was about substance. We made pledges not just to one another but also to our residents and to the world. We will make sustainable, measurable progress in the fight against climate change and stand up where our national governments have fallen down.
Chicago was ideally suited to host the climate summit. We have taken decisive action to create the future our residents demand. Just days after President Trump announced his plan to withdraw from the Paris Agreement, Chicago was one of the first US cities to respond. I issued an executive order committing Chicago to the carbon-reduction goals that the federal government chose to abandon. Chicago has closed coal plants, is in the process of replacing street lighting with LED bulbs, and converting all public building to be powered by 100 percent renewable energy. In addition, the city is diversifying sustainable transportation options. We know from experience that we can strengthen the economy while doing the right thing. Each of our steps helps the economy, creates jobs, and contributes to better health outcomes for our residents.
I want to thank all the mayors who signed the Chicago Climate Charter and committed to bold and decisive action. I also want to thank Vice Chair of the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy Christiana Figueres for partnering on this pivotal gathering and C40 for hosting the C40 Cities Bloomberg Philanthropies Awards during the summit. Special thanks are also owed to Anne Hidalgo, Mayor of Paris and Chair of C40, for her support. Enormous gratitude goes to President Barack Obama for inspiring us all with his presence and perseverance.
Finally, I would like to thank the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, the Joyce Foundation, and Crown Family Philanthropies, whose support made this summit possible. This final report, which summarizes the Summit’s highlights, was supported by the Robert R. McCormick Foundation’s grant to the Chicago Council on Global Affairs for research on global cities.
The path to achieving the objectives of the Paris Agreement runs through the Chicago Climate Charter. The path to clean air and a livable climate runs through our cities. The path to a vibrant and healthy future is in our hands. We will act.