Mayor Re-Commits to Paris Agreement to Tackle Climate Change
As a new administration prepares to move in to the White House, Mayor Keller is joining thousands of national leaders in reiterating a commitment to building a cleaner, healthier city. The mayor’s signature is a re-affirmation of one of the first sustainability actions taken in his administration, when he committed to the goals of the Paris Agreement.
December 12th marked the five-year anniversary of the Paris Agreement, a critical turning point for the future of U.S. climate action. The ‘We Are Still In’ statement addresses high-level climate actions that federal policymakers can take, and calls for enhanced partnership and leadership across federal and non-federal public/private sector entities. It does so with an emphasis on economic recovery and just and equitable outcomes.
Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller said, “When we took office we made it clear we wouldn’t wait for the federal government to act on our values, and we’ve put Albuquerque on track to be one of the cleanest, healthiest cities in the country within a decade. Now with an incoming White House that understands science backing us up, we’ll be able to go farther to ensure a sustainable way of life for our kids.”
The ‘We Are Still In’ statement can be read in full at: www.americaisallin.com
This action builds on the Keller administration’s substantial work to date on sustainability, including:
- Won a $2.7 million federal grant to bring the first electric buses to Albuquerque,
- Signed the Paris Agreement committing to climate action,
- Installed 38 solar projects at city-owned buildings,
- Invested $300,000 in VW settlement funding to add 28 electric charging stations in Albuquerque by Spring 2021,
- Launched the Green Team to expand sustainability across departments,
- Launched the Mayor’s Energy Challenge to support local businesses reduce energy use,
- Won Bloomberg American Cities Climate Challenge with funding for sustainability efforts,
- Made the transition to more sustainable LED street lights citywide,
- Provided over 200 homes with free energy audits and upgrades in partnership with PNM, Partnership for Community Action and Prosperity Works,
- Partnered with PNM to launch the Solar Direct project to get to achieve over 80% renewable energy use by Fall 2021,
- Purchased the first electric vehicles for the City fleet, and enacted a “Zero Emissions First” fleet vehicle adoption policy,
- Achieved LEED for Cities Silver certification, and
- Ranked 40th on the 2020 City Clean Energy Scorecard—and 5th most improved—by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE).