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District of Columbia Demonstrates Commitment to Act on Climate Ahead COP21

Thursday, September 24, 2015
DC announces full compliance with the Compact of Mayors

(Washington, DC) – Today, Mayor Muriel Bowser announced that the District of Columbia has met all planning and reporting requirements of the Compact of Mayors, a global coalition of mayors and city officials pledging to reduce local greenhouse gas emissions, enhance resilience to climate change, and track their progress transparently.

By fully complying with the Compact of Mayors, Mayor Bowser reinforces the District’s commitment to climate action and reducing greenhouse gas emissions 50 percent by 2032 and 80 percent by 2050. The District is also assessing the effects of climate change and creating a plan to prepare for and adapt to hotter temperatures, rising sea levels, and more extreme weather.

The contribution that cities can make to reduce global emissions can encourage national governments to set higher goals for COP21 – the Paris Climate Conference. Countries are negotiating a universal agreement that will set the world on a path to limit global temperature rise to less than two degrees Celsius (3.6F).

Recent research shows that if every local government  in the world took action in accordance with the Compact of Mayors—particularly by targeting their building energy, transportation, and waste sectors—they could reduce global greenhouse gas emissions by the equivalent of cutting the world’s annual coal use by more than half.

“As Pope Francis visits Washington, DC this week, we are inspired by his call to protect our planet from the harmful effects of climate change,” said Mayor Muriel Bowser. “The District is proud to be recognized as one of the first cities to attain compliance with the International Compact of Mayors.  As the nation’s capital, we will continue to lead the nation in green energy and sustainable practices.  By taking bold and concrete steps to reduce greenhouse emissions, we will improve the long-term health of our community, while creating good paying jobs that build pathways to the middle class for our residents.”

The District is already making great strides, cutting greenhouse gas emissions 16 percent since 2006. Last month, Mayor Bowser announced a groundbreaking power purchase agreement that will supply 35 percent of the District government’s electricity with wind power for the next 20 years. The agreement is the largest wind power deal of its kind ever entered into by an American city, and is projected to save District taxpayers $45 million over the next 20 years.

“The District is living proof that taking action on climate change is not only good for the planet, but good for the economy,” said Department of Energy & Environment Director Tommy Wells. “We have significantly cut our greenhouse gas emissions while growing our population and our economy. We also recognize that climate change will have the biggest impact on our most vulnerable residents who are least able to bounce back from disasters.  As we finalize the city’s first climate adaptation plan, we will look towards strategies that will help us adapt to a changing climate and build more resilient communities.”

As one of the key initiatives launched at the UN Climate Summit in September of 2014 by the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and his Special Envoy for Cities and Climate Change, Michael R. Bloomberg, the Compact of Mayors is the world’s largest collective effort to date by cities to tackle climate change, proactively prepare for its impacts, and regularly track and report progress. The Compact was activated under the leadership of the global city networks—C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group (C40), ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability (ICLEI) and the United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG)—and with support from UN-Habitat, the UN’s lead agency on urban issues.

"Mayor Bower and the District of Columbia deserve great credit for acting quickly and decisively to meet all the requirements for compliance with the Compact of Mayors," said Bloomberg. "The Compact requirements bring more transparency and accountability to city efforts to confront climate change, and the District’s actions should encourage cities to accelerate their progress in the run-up to the UN climate summit."

The District’s commitment to the Compact builds on years of efforts to combat climate change through its membership in the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group, ICLEI and the Carbon Neutral Cities Alliance.

Visit www.compactofmayors.org to learn more about the Compact of Mayors.

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About the Compact of Mayors 
The Compact of Mayors is a global coalition of mayors and city officials pledging to reduce local greenhouse gas emissions, enhance resilience to climate change, and to track their progress transparently. The Compact was launched in September of 2014 by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and his Special Envoy for Cities and Climate Change, Michael R. Bloomberg. The Compact was activated under the leadership of the global city networks—C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group (C40), ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability (ICLEI) and the United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG)—and with support from UN-Habitat, the UN’s lead agency on urban issues. In the lead-up to the 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Paris, the unity and ambition among cities through the Compact of Mayors will inspire world leaders to follow suit and forge a global climate deal in Paris.