During the US Conference of Mayors annual conference last week USCM and the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions (C2ES) introduced the early results of a new survey showing that an overwhelming majority of mayors are interested in working with each other and the private sector on reducing climate change. 

The organizations previously partnered to create the Alliance for a Sustainable Future to help address the issues. “The nation’s mayors are poised to take an even greater leadership role in fighting climate change and protecting cities from its negative impacts. Working together with the business community, we can achieve deeper results more quickly and more broadly,” said Tom Cochran, CEO of USCM.

The early results of the survey, which is open for respondents through the summer, showed that of 66 cities across the US 90 percent are interested in working with each other to take action on climate change. At the same time, 87 percent are also interested in working with the private sector on climate action.

“Cities and companies both realize the risks of climate impacts and the economic opportunities of climate solutions. By partnering, they can keep the U.S. heading in the right direction toward a sustainable future,” said C2ES President Bob Perciasepe.

The cities that already have responded to the survey represent 30 states and have populations between 21,000 and 8.5 million. The cities are already taking action on climate change. Already half of the responding are incentivizing energy efficiency in new and existing commercial and residential buildings and 66 percent of them have public electric vehicle charging stations and 36 percent are developing private infrastructure for EVs. 

“Cities and companies are making progress, but more can and must be done. Cities small and large across the country see the benefits of improving energy efficiency and deploying more clean energy and transportation,” said Santa Fe Mayor Javier Gonzales, chairman of the alliance steering committee. “But we need to create a baseline so we can measure our ongoing progress. Sustainability is a smart strategy for the future, and cities and companies need to learn from one another.”

There’s still plenty of work to be done, however. For instance, less than half of respondents had policies or programs to help residents and business owners choose renewable electricity options. Hence the alliance creates a framework for mayors and business leaders to develop carbon emission reduction strategies. It also will help speed the deployment of new clean energy technologies and develop of sustainable development strategies.