4 Cities that Are Leading the World on Climate Action

As nearly 200 nations convene in the Paris suburb of Le Bourget with the hope of creating a binding international agreement on climate change, much of the world’s focus is fixed on the national and international responses to the issue.

But in Paris proper, cities are enjoying their time in the climate spotlight, with various events focusing on the progress being made at the micro level, from carbon-positive urban developments to massive deployments of electric transportation.

On December 3, leaders from more than 33 cities were honored for their efforts to fight climate change at the annual C40 awards, a ceremony dedicated to recognizing innovations and leadership in climate action at the city level.

“Cities are where things happen.  If cities do something, heads of states will say, ‘Wait a second, we don’t want to be left out,'” Michael Bloomberg, former mayor of New York City and U.N. Special Envoy for Cities and Climate Change, told reporters at the event.  “As cities, corporations, and individuals, you have to really solve the problem, because you’re responsible, people can see what you’re doing, and it’s your lives on the line.”

Portland mayor Charlie Hales, whose city’s 2015 Climate Action Plan was honored as a finalist at the awards, echoed Bloomberg’s confidence in cities’ abilities to push climate change on an international scale.

Read more at 4 Cities that Are Leading the World on Climate Action