Climate action: What can cities teach countries?

A new report from CDP links climate action with economic and social benefits.

With the release of a proposed climate action plan for the U.S., President Obama brings renewed national focus to an issue that, frankly, many of the world’s leading cities long since moved beyond debating and began addressing.

Specifically, how do we reduce our carbon emissions, minimize additional human-caused change to the climate, and prepare ourselves to adapt to the inevitable consequences already in place?

Scores of cities in the U.S. have climate action plans in place (more than 50 in California alone), as do many more world-wide. And a new report that surveys 110 cities around the globe reveals that cities’ actions to address climate change are bearing secondary dividends.

The report, entitled “How climate change action is giving us wealthier, healthier cities” from CDP (an independent organization working to reduce greenhouse gas emissions) with analysis by AECOM, suggests that emissions reductions activities make business sense. Cities are reporting up to US$13 million in annual energy savings and that initiatives they are taking to reduce emissions are likely to boost the economy and attract new business investment.

The full report and a video of a panel discussion with city representatives and the report leaders is available the CDP cities global report launch site.