Mayor Pete Buttigieg today committed to the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy, a global coalition of city leaders dedicated to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, enhancing community resilience to the unavoidable impacts of climate change, and increasing access to sustainable energy.
By joining the Global Covenant of Mayors, the City commits to measuring local greenhouse gas emissions and setting an ambitious goal to reduce carbon pollution. The City will create a climate action plan and measure and report progress towards the goal. The City will also assess the risks South Bend faces due to changing climate, and consider strategies to increase the community’s resilience and add more renewable energy.
“We are already seeing the effects of climate change on our residents and businesses,” said Mayor Buttigieg. “We joined the Covenant because we are serious about ensuring South Bend is a healthy, prosperous place for the next several generations, and because we want South Bend to contribute to the global effort to protect the climate.”
“We have been working to reduce our carbon footprint, as a city and as a community, for several years. Joining the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy today strengthens our city’s commitment with a clear and data-driven path to fighting climate change,” said South Bend Director of Sustainability Therese Dorau.
South Bend joins thousands of Global Covenant cities in more than 120 countries and six continents that are setting local climate targets in line with national and international agreements.
“The Global Covenant of Mayors reflects the commitment that cities are making to reduce carbon emissions and the crucial role they play in confronting climate change,” said Michael Bloomberg, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Climate Action. “The more cities that take part in the Global Covenant of Mayors, the bigger impact it will have. I applaud all of the mayors who have committed, and look forward to welcoming more cities into our growing coalition.”
Director Dorau will be speaking tomorrow about the City’s past and planned climate action at IU South Bend’s Center for a Sustainable Future Earth Day Reception and Awards Ceremony. This event, which also marks the ten-year anniversary of the Center, takes place at The University Grill at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 26.
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