Michael R. Bloomberg Names Columbus Winner in Bloomberg American Cities Climate Challenge
Columbus is one of 20 cities total to be awarded with
resources and technical support to help achieve their ambitious climate goals
under Bloomberg American Cities Climate Challenge
[COLUMBUS,
OH] – October 29, 2018 - Today, Bloomberg Philanthropies announced Columbus as
a winning city in the Bloomberg American Cities Climate Challenge. The
Bloomberg American Cities Climate Challenge is a $70 million dollar program
that will accelerate 20 ambitious cities’ efforts to tackle climate change and
promote a sustainable future for residents. Through the Climate Challenge –
which is part of Bloomberg’s American Cities Initiative, a suite of more than
$200 million in investments to strengthen city halls and advance critical
policies – Columbus is accepted into a two-year acceleration program and will
be provided powerful new resources and access to cutting-edge support to help
meet or beat the city’s near-term carbon reduction goals.
Bloomberg
Philanthropies selected Columbus as a winning city because of their innovative
and ambitious climate action plans to reduce air pollution and city-wide
emissions with specific projects aimed at reforming their respective transit
and buildings sectors, areas which are typically responsible for 80% total of
all citywide emissions and over which mayors have significant authority.
Bloomberg Philanthropies also recognizes Columbus Mayor Andrew J. Ginther for
his commitment to ambitious climate action and securing a cleaner, safer and
healthier environment and economy for their residents.
“Cities
are helping to keep America moving forward on climate change despite the lack
of leadership from Washington, and this challenge was designed to help
innovative mayors reach their goals,” said Mike Bloomberg, UN Special Envoy for
Climate Action. “We were looking for cities with ambitious and realistic plans
to cut emissions in ways that improve people’s lives, and mayors committed to
getting the job done. Each of these winning cities brings those ingredients to
the table - and we’re looking forward to working with them and seeing what they
can accomplish.”
“The
wellbeing and prosperity of our community is inextricably linked to solving the
climate crisis. This presents a great opportunity to our generation to
innovate,” said Mayor Ginther. “Columbus is no stranger to innovation. By being
named a winning city by Bloomberg, we will be able to boldly move forward with
existing and new programs to cut city emissions through sustainable
construction and mobility initiatives.”
“We’re
excited and focused on creating a sustainable and green Columbus,” said
Councilmember Emmanuel V. Remy. “We must continue to prepare for tomorrow by
actualizing our mission and vision to address climate change in the City.”
“The
Paris climate agreement is a promise we made to our children—and we’re going to
keep it,” said Rhea Suh, President of the Natural Resources Defense Council.
“The American Cities Climate Challenge gives cities the tools they need to lead
the way. With cities generating the majority of the fossil fuel pollution
driving climate change, and bearing the brunt of its impacts, fighting climate
change begins in City Hall. These mayors are committed to delivering a
brighter, more hopeful tomorrow for future generations.”
Columbus
plans to use this support for a number of new and existing initiatives, and
Bloomberg Philanthropies will work with the city to achieve the following
actions by 2020:
- Deploy
a workforce development program for energy efficiency auditors and
increase the number of homes audited with a focus on the City
neighborhoods with the highest rates of energy poverty.
- Accelerate
existing and add new financing programs for energy efficiency and
renewables for commercial buildings.
- Roll
out a multimodal trip planning app to drive behavioral insights and
engagement strategies to encourage mode share.
- Launch
a communications campaign to increase ridership on newly expanded
high-frequency transit lines.
As
Climate Challenge winners, the 20 winning cities will be accepted into a
two-year acceleration program with powerful new resources and access to
cutting-edge support, led by experts at the Natural Resources Defense Council,
Delivery Associates and others, to help them meet – or beat – their near-term
carbon reduction goals, from creating high-impact policies to putting them into
action. These resources include a philanthropy-funded team member to facilitate
the development and passage of high impact policies, training for senior leadership
to assist with implementation of their proposed climate plans, and citizen
engagement support to maximize community buy-in.
Building
on the America’s Pledge initiative, which aims to
keep the U.S. in the Paris Agreement, the Climate Challenge underscores
Bloomberg’s dedication to action as this investment will translate city
commitments into tangible climate achievements. Bloomberg will announce the
remaining winners of the Climate Challenge on a rolling basis throughout the
fall, highlighting the ongoing, ambitious, and impactful actions cities are
taking every day to address the growing threat of climate change.
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About Columbus
The City of Columbus is America’s 14th largest city,
encompassing dozens of vibrant neighborhoods over 223 square miles. The 860,000
residents are employed in a variety of sectors including health care, finance,
transportation and construction. Businesses in Columbus are widely varied, with
no one sector contributing more than 20 percent to the economy, which makes the
city particularly economically stable. The city has more than 12,000 acres of
parkland and 120 trails for hiking and biking.
About Bloomberg Philanthropies
Bloomberg Philanthropies works in 480 cities in more than
120 countries around the world to ensure better, longer lives for the greatest
number of people. The organization focuses on five key areas for creating
lasting change: Arts, Education, Environment, Government Innovation, and Public
Health. Bloomberg Philanthropies encompasses all of Michael R. Bloomberg’s
charitable activities, including his foundation and his personal giving. In
2017, Bloomberg Philanthropies distributed $702 million. For more information,
please visit https://www.bloomberg.org/ or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and Twitter.
About the Bloomberg American Cities Climate
Challenge
Recognizing that cities account for more than 70% of global
carbon emissions, the Bloomberg American Cities Climate Challenge was formed
with an investment of $70 million to enhance the work already being done by
mayors across the U.S. and to support cities in the fight against climate
change. The Bloomberg American Cities Climate Challenge aims to go beyond the
theoretical and scale up high-impact urban climate solutions that are already
proven to succeed - specifically, from the buildings and transportation
sectors. World-class partners for the Bloomberg American Cities Climate
Challenge will be led by the Natural Resources Defense Council and Delivery
Associates. The Bloomberg American Cities Climate Challenge is part of Mike
Bloomberg’s American Cities Initiative, a suite of more than $200 million in
investments to strengthen city halls and advance critical policies.
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