45 Top Mayors Pledge Action on Extreme Weather, Launch National Resilience Campaign

Local leaders commit to creating more resilient cities and counties in response to nation’s growing extreme weather, climate and energy challenges; call for greater federal support

WASHINGTON, June 17, 2013 — /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Forty-five leading local elected officials today committed to creating more resilient cities, towns, and counties in the face of unprecedented extreme weather and energy challenges that threaten communities across the country. The “Inaugural Signatories” of the Resilient Communities for America Agreement letter pledged to take cost-effective actions to prepare and protect their communities from the increasing disasters and disruptions fueled by climate change, such as heat waves, floods, droughts, severe storms, and wildfires. In addition, they called for more action and support from federal leaders.

“A new national movement is emerging, led by mayors who believe that now is the time to take powerful, proactive steps to safeguard our communities, adapt to extreme weather and energy challenges, and transform adversity into economic opportunity,” said Mayor Kevin Johnson of Sacramento, CA, Chair of the Resilient Communities for America campaign. “Today I call on my fellow mayors and county leaders across the country to join the campaign and make your own commitment to creating more resilient communities that are strong, self-reliant, prepared, and prosperous.”

Inaugural Signatories include Mayor Vincent Gray, Washington DC; Mayor Bob Filner, San Diego, CA; Mayor John Cook, El Paso, TX; Mayor Michael Hancock, Denver, CO; Mayor Mark Mallory, Cincinnati, OH; Mayor Frank Cownie, Des Moines, IA; and Mayor Kristin Jacobs, Broward County, FL.

View the full list at http://www.resilientamerica.org.

“By signing the Resilient Communities for America Agreement, these elected officials have demonstrated their leadership, which will in turn inspire hundreds more cities and counties to take action and sign on,” said Michael Schmitz, Executive Director of ICLEI USA, one of the four organizations to coordinate the multi-year campaign, including the U.S. Green Building Council, the National League of Cities, and the World Wildlife Fund.

“Just last week, NOAA reported that extreme weather events caused a staggering $110 billion in damage in 2012, took countless lives, and impacted virtually every part of the country. As greenhouse gas emissions rise from our fossil fuel use, we know that heat waves, severe storms and rising seas will only worsen,” said World Wildlife Fund’s Director of Renewable Energy Keya Chatterjee. “By improving energy efficiency and expanding use of renewable energy, our most resilient cities are reducing emissions, saving money, creating local jobs, and strengthening local energy independence.”

“Leading local governments understand that focusing on preparedness is incredibly cost-effective,” said Jason Hartke, Vice President of National Policy at the U.S. Green Building Council. “For every $1 spent on disaster preparedness, a community can save $4 in avoided costs.”

“Today, these local leaders are pledging to take action and not just offer platitudes. By participating in Resilient Communities for America campaign, these leaders are demonstrating great foresight that will save communities long-term dollars and even lives,” said Clarence Anthony, Executive Director of the National League of Cities. “The campaign’s valuable technical resources and tools will help cities reach their own goals on climate preparedness, infrastructure renewal, energy security, and economic competitiveness.”

At the campaign launch event at the National Press Club today, local leaders called for more action at the federal level.

“Local governments have always been the leaders on climate action, but we need more support from the federal government,” said Mayor Frank Cownie of Des Moines, IA. “We need better local-federal coordination on disaster preparedness, and we need them to address our aging and inadequate infrastructure, which has been under-funded for far too long. I am proud to be a part of the Resilient Communities for America campaign to help raise awareness and visibility on these issues.”

• Download the media kit at www.resilientamerica.org/contact-us/

Media contact: Don Knapp, ICLEI USA (510) 206-1011 don.knapp@iclei.org

SOURCE ICLEI USA

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