Good Friday afternoon, everyone:

As our country has moved through periods of occasional climate change misinformation to sporadic climate change denial to nationally-directed turn-back-the-clock-on-climate policy, it’s easy to be pessimistic, fatalistic, or worse.

But Jessica B. – ever our ambassador of hope and tenacity – just returned from the “COP30 Local Leaders Forum” in Rio de Janeiro with a decidedly more positive take. The conference, organized by the COP30 Presidency and Bloomberg Philanthropies, gathered representatives of some14,000 cities, towns, states, regions, provinces, and devolved governments across every continent who are engaged in advancing innovative, enduring, and impactful strategies to mitigate the effects of climate change. Not to be confused with the meeting of leaders of national governments at the United Nations’ COP Climate 30 itself in Belem, Brazil, the local leaders summit sought to send a message to their elected leaders in Belem that there should be no let-up in the fight against the climate crisis – and that there are, indeed, extraordinary things happening locally that should give confidence that the fight can be effective.

Jessica called attention to a portion of the closing statement:

Together, we are committed to making life more affordable and building more resilient communities by expanding renewable energy access, accelerating energy efficiency, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, advancing nature-based solutions, and protecting forests, biodiversity and water. Around the world, regions are publishing robust transition and adaptation plans, showing how climate action and nature protection can go hand in hand for stronger local economies and fairer futures. Cities are planning ambitious climate actions for the next 12 months — and will do so every year. [….]

Our collective action is a beacon of hope for the people we serve every day. By turning global, national, and local climate policies into tangible results, we are improving the daily lives of our residents: creating new jobs, cleaner air, safer streets, healthier and more inclusive communities, and stronger economies. [….]

To the world leaders gathering in Belém next week: you can count on us. [….] Our collective commitment will help advance the COP30 Action Agenda and fuel the spirit of global collaboration needed to deliver a just, resilient and sustainable net-zero future for all not only for this COP, but for generations to come.

A moving and compelling affirmation of the power of local action. It is so fitting that Jessica could be there representing Kresge, which has oriented our environmental strategies fully toward that end.

And, of course, an utter contrast with the Belem gathering, which the U.S. government didn’t even think about attending (or, more precisely, the government housed in Washington, D.C. didn’t attend – the U.S. government housed in California did actually send its head of state, Gavin Newsome), the Rio convening included the governors of New Mexico and Wisconsin, the mayors of Austin, Los Angeles, and Phoenix, and other representatives of more than 50 U.S. communities, including several of our grantees. Indeed, Jessica pointed out that Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego observed that two-thirds of the U.S. population and three-fourths of economic activity are represented by communities working aggressively on climate action.

Jessica concludes:

It was truly heartening to feel the energy at the gathering. The elected officials were, of course, eating up the recognition and celebration of their progress, and you could see them renewing their sense that they are part of a large and dynamic team of leaders working to address a global challenge in ways that matter to their communities and constituents. In many cases, and certainly in the U.S., these local communities are ahead of their national governments, in terms of commitments and progress. And, as they made clear in Rio, they will continue to lead the way.

So well-said. Thank you, Jessica!!

Rip

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