Across North American cities, there has been a surge in environmental action as municipalities strive to create a greener and healthier future for their citizens. The 2023 CDP A List showcases cities and counties from large to small that are leading the way in environmental sustainability. By disclosing their environmental data through CDP-ICLEI Track, these cities are able to assess their progress and set science-based targets to address climate challenges. From investing in city-wide resilience to ramping up renewable energy initiatives, these cities are taking impressive actions to mitigate climate change and create a more sustainable future for all.
Investing in city-wide resilience
For many A List cities, reckoning with severe impacts of climate change has been a wakeup call, inciting bold environmental action. The City of Houston has suffered immensely from extreme weather events like Hurricane Harvey, with particular impact on low-income communities of color. Houston’s Mayor Turner said: “This year, the City of Houston published its Resilient Hubs Masterplan, and implementation is underway. This network of resilience hubs will increase resilience during severe weather and disasters, including storms, floods, loss of power, or even extreme heat, at the neighborhood level – particularly in disadvantaged and under-resourced communities that too often find themselves in a state of constant recovery.”
Setting science-based targets
This year, for the first time, cities were required to set a science-based emissions reduction target in order to earn an A score. Village of Oak Park, Illinois, is one of these, with its adopted target of reducing emissions 60% by 2030 from a 2019 baseline. As Village President Vicki Scaman said, “the Community Building Electrification Program, one of many key strategies to achieving net-zero by 2050 as outlined in the Climate Ready Oak Park plan, will provide resources and tools for all residential and commercial buildings in Oak Park to ease the transition from gas to electric units.”
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Ramping up renewables
A List cities are taking ambitious steps to cut their own carbon footprints, deploying renewable energy at large to drive cleaner air for citizens and reduce their impact on global warming. Through its Solar City Program, the Halifax Regional Municipality has dedicated almost US$15 million to help local property owners install solar panels and generate 7.30 MW of renewable energy. As a result of this initiative, homeowners are expected to save a total of over US$1 million annually in utility costs. “The science couldn’t be clearer – more than 70 percent of greenhouse gas emissions in the Halifax region come from buildings,” said Halifax Regional Municipality Mayor Mike Savage. “The municipality is leading by example and, by 2030, we are committed to achieving net-zero municipal operations. By 2050, residents and local businesses alike will benefit from the investments across our economy in building retrofits, renewable energy and energy storage.”
Building sustainable infrastructure
Leading cities in North America are implementing sustainable infrastructure projects that involve the whole community in climate solutions. Windsor, Ontario’s Residential Deep Energy Efficiency Retrofits (aka Greener Homes Windsor) is finalizing its program offering. The program aims to offer technical and financial assistance to homeowners to improve energy efficiency in homes. Through this program, the city will offer low-interest loans (up to ~US$30,000) to homeowners to help make energy efficient retrofits to their homes, such as air sealing, insulation, and windows and doors. Loans will be repaid through a Local Improvement Charge (LIC) on property tax bills. It’s a voluntary program whose goal is to retrofit 80% of single-family homes built prior to 2018, resulting in 30-50% reductions in energy usage and GHG emissions.
Creating inclusive climate solutions for a just transition
Cities that are ahead of the curve on climate solutions are prioritizing low-income citizens in their actions. Ann Arbor, Michigan, is working to address the barrier of upfront costs of installing onsite renewable energy generation. Through the Ann Arbor Solarize program, the city offers discounts on residential solar installations by connecting installers with a pool of residents, helping them save millions in upfront costs and monthly energy bill savings. The program has been structured to scale impact, and a low-to-moderate income program is currently in development to make solar available to more households. Mayor Christopher Taylor said: “Ann Arbor has set the goal of a just transition to community-wide carbon neutrality by 2030 and our work to achieve this goal will also help us improve the quality of life, foster greater community resilience, enhance neighborhood social cohesion, and create a more equitable and just community for all existing and future Ann Arborites.”
Safeguarding nature
Increasingly, major economic actors at the vanguard of environmental action are moving beyond management of GHG emissions and increasingly focusing on nature. This year’s A List cities are just as concerned with clean water use and local biodiversity as they are with climate impact. Denver, Colorado, for example, is focused on plastic waste. Its Single-Use Accessory Restriction Ordinance requires all retail food establishments to provide single-use service ware only upon request by a customer, drastically reducing the amount of condiments, plastic silverware, and straws used across the city.
Fostering healthy communities through climate action
Finally, cities that are already seeing the impacts of climate change and preparing for conditions to grow more extreme are, in some cases, creating new departments within city government to focus on adaptation. In 2021, the City of Phoenix, Arizona, was the first in the nation to create a publicly funded Office of Heat Response and Mitigation (OHRM or HeatReadyPHX). The goal of the OHRM is to protect citizens against the growing hazard of urban heat, including both heat response and heat mitigation. The Office coordinates programs and policies to help lower urban temperatures and safeguard public health while also collaborating with other governments and organizations to share potential solutions.
In addition to these notable actions, there are several other initiatives and policies worth mentioning. Implementing green building codes and standards, expanding public transportation and cycling infrastructure, promoting renewable energy in local schools, and supporting local agriculture and food security are just a few examples of the comprehensive efforts being made by cities across North America to combat climate change and create sustainable, resilient communities.
By investing in city-wide resilience, setting science-based targets, ramping up renewables, building sustainable infrastructure, creating inclusive climate solutions, safeguarding nature, and fostering healthy communities through climate action, North American cities are leading the way in environmental leadership and paving the path for a greener, more sustainable future. These standout actions serve as an inspiration and blueprint for other cities and municipalities to follow, ensuring a collective effort to address the pressing challenges of climate change and create a better world for current and future generations.