Mike Bloomberg Names St. Louis Winner In Bloomberg American Cities Climate Challenge

Today, Bloomberg Philanthropies announced St. Louis as a winning city in the Bloomberg American Cities Climate Challenge, a national initiative to tackle climate change and promote a sustainable future for citizens.

As a winning city, St. Louis joins a two-year program where Bloomberg Philanthropies will provide in-person technical assistance and support for the following actions by 2020:

• Leverage the energy usage information and data reporting associated with the City's Energy Benchmarking program, and the financing tools available through the City's Set The PACE St. Louis program, so that they translate to significant energy efficiency building improvements in the private sector
• Develop and execute a comprehensive solar action strategy for the city
• Conduct electric vehicle analysis and outreach to accelerate availability of electric vehicle infrastructure and use of electric vehicles.

Bloomberg reports St. Louis was selected as a winning city because of its innovative climate action plans to reduce air pollution and citywide emissions.

The City has outlined specific projects aimed at improvements in the transit and buildings sectors, areas which are typically responsible for 80 percent of all citywide emissions. Bloomberg Philanthropies also recognizes St. Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson for her commitment to ambitious climate action and securing a cleaner, safer, and healthier environment for residents.

“We know that 97 percent of the total greenhouse gas emissions community-wide come from the building and transportation sectors,” Krewson said. “The resources associated with this climate challenge grant are a game-changer.

Thanks to Bloomberg Philanthropies, St. Louis will be positioned to accelerate our work on our Climate Protection Initiative.”

The Bloomberg American Cities Climate Challenge is a $70 million dollar program that will accelerate 20 cities’ efforts to tackle climate change and promote a sustainable future for residents. Through the

Climate Challenge – which is part of Bloomberg’s American Cities Initiative – cities will have access to a suite of more than $200 million in investments to strengthen city halls and advance critical policies.

“With Washington asleep at the wheel, cities are more important than ever in the fight against climate change. And they are driving America forward,” said Mike Bloomberg, UN Special Envoy for Climate Action.

“In response to our Climate Challenge, cities all across the country – red and blue, big and small – put forward thoughtful and innovative proposals. But Minneapolis, St. Paul, Chicago, St. Louis, Indianapolis, Cincinnati, and Columbus broke out from the pack. Congratulations to them all! And I look forward to seeing them put their ideas into action.”

“The Paris climate agreement is a promise we made to our children—and we’re going to keep it,” said Rhea Suh, President of the Natural Resources Defense Council. “The American Cities Climate Challenge gives cities the tools they need to lead the way. With cities generating the majority of the fossil fuel pollution driving climate change, and bearing the brunt of its impacts, fighting climate change begins in City Hall. These mayors are committed to delivering a brighter, more hopeful tomorrow for future generations.”

As Climate Challenge winners, the 20 winning cities will be accepted into a two-year acceleration program with powerful new resources and access to cutting-edge support, led by experts at the Natural Resources Defense Council, Delivery Associates and others, to help them meet – or beat – their near-term carbon reduction goals, from creating high-impact policies to putting them into action. 

These resources include a philanthropy-funded team member to facilitate the development and passage of high impact policies, training for senior leadership to assist with implementation of their proposed climate plans, and citizen engagement support to maximize community buy-in.

Building on the America’s Pledge initiative, which aims to keep the U.S. in the Paris Agreement, the Climate Challenge underscores Bloomberg’s dedication to action as this investment will translate city commitments into tangible climate achievements.

Bloomberg will announce the remaining winners of the Climate Challenge on a rolling basis throughout the fall, highlighting the ongoing, ambitious, and impactful actions cities are taking every day to address the growing threat of climate change.

Learn more about the City of St. Louis Sustainability Office online. Read here the City of St. Louis Sustainability Plan, and the Climate Action & Adaptation Plan for the City of St. Louis Sustainability Plan.

About Bloomberg Philanthropies

Bloomberg Philanthropies works in 480 cities in more than 120 countries around the world to ensure better, longer lives for the greatest number of people.

The organization focuses on five key areas for creating lasting change: Arts, Education, Environment, Government Innovation, and Public Health. Bloomberg Philanthropies encompasses all of Michael R. Bloomberg’s charitable activities, including his foundation and his personal giving. In 2017, Bloomberg Philanthropies distributed $702 million.

For more information, please visitwww.bloomberg.org or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and Twitter.

About the Bloomberg American Cities Climate Challenge

Recognizing that cities account for more than 70% of global carbon emissions, the Bloomberg American Cities Climate Challenge was formed with an investment of $70 million to enhance the work already being done by mayors across the U.S. and to support cities in the fight against climate change. 

The Bloomberg American Cities Climate Challenge aims to go beyond the theoretical and scale up high-impact urban climate solutions that are already proven to succeed - specifically, from the buildings and transportation sectors.

World-class partners for the Bloomberg American Cities Climate Challenge will be led by the Natural Resources Defense Council and Delivery Associates.

The Bloomberg American Cities Climate Challenge is part of Mike Bloomberg’s American Cities Initiative, a suite of more than $200 million in investments to strengthen city halls and advance critical policies.