From New York City to Melbourne to Buenos Aires, mayors and city legislators are making ambitious commitments and taking bold action to transition to zero-carbon economies.

Climate change is a catastrophic threat that will affect several aspects of the global economy and fundamentally alter the way we live – and the world needs leadership.

Cities are aiming to take on this role, but not without significant barriers to overcome.

Although some mayors have the political backing and support of citizens, a lack of national agendas, uncooperative business industries, limiting legislation and a dearth of infrastructure can prevent some city officials from moving quickly on the implementation of green policies.

NYC aims to take charge

In 2012 Hurricane Sandy caused flooding, mudslides and destructive winds as it inundated the coast of New York with heavy rainfall, paralysing the city.

Growing numbers of extreme weather events and behemoth storms are a landmark trait of a warming planet.

Dan Zarrilli, New York City's Chief Climate Policy Advisor, credits the storm as instrumental in mobilising citizen support for measures to tackle climate change.

As scientists grow more concerned about the looming threats of climate change and the reluctance to tackle the problem, citizens are looking for guidance and swift action.

“Leadership is absolutely crucial on climate change, said Zarrilli. “This year, we [public servants in NYC] are telling a clear story that we are facing a crisis and to address that, we need to transition to carbon-neutral.”

He added that it’s critical that the message comes from the top. To show leadership, it’s important for public servants to not make empty political declarations, but take concrete actions.

In April of 2019, the city released OneNYC 2050, a strategic Green New Deal-style sustainability plan, while also committing to zero carbon by 2050. Zarelli, who is also the director of the OneNYC strategy, said that a defining feature of the strategy is to bind inequality and climate action into one inclusive plan.

Through investments and passing legislation to limit carbon emissions such as instituting charging infrastructure for electric vehicles and ensuring pension portfolios move away from fossil fuels, the city can lead by example.

As part of a leadership strategy, Zarelli said it’s important to reinforce that delivering on climate change requires working together, which is why all NYC agencies are involved in carrying out the strategy and working towards their departmental targets.

Officials have run into some problems along the way. Public servants were voluntarily making data available, so building owners and real estate assemblies could make necessary adjustments to retrofit buildings for energy efficiency. But some real estate companies pushed back and refused to reduce their carbon footprints.

Zarrilli said regulation is an effective tool to get action. In April 2019, NYC passed a retrofitting bill, requiring large buildings to become more energy efficient through mandates and strict target deadlines. Although there was some reluctance at first, he said the bill will lead to more cost-savings over the long term.

Despite the federal government pulling out of the 2015 Paris agreement, NYC has been able to move quickly on climate policies.

But because state and local legislatures in New York are dominated by Democrats — the party has been historically more open to embracing climate policies — and the majority of New Yorkers support policies that tackle climate change, NYC has had an easier transition. Some cities have bigger obstacles to overcome.

Houston: we have a problem

Sandy was the second costliest storm in US history, with a 70 billion dollar price tag, until Hurricane Harvey hit Texas in 2017. Hurricane Harvey was a category four storm that led to catastrophic flooding, engulfing some areas of Houston, the US’s third-largest metro area, in over 50 inches of water.

Lara Cottingham the chief sustainability officer for Houston, similarly said Harvey played a primary role in shifting the climate consensus among citizens and policymakers.

Although the mayors of both Houston and NYC have declared that they remain committed to the Paris Agreement, Houston has more challenges to get to net zero in comparison.

As an oil and gas haven situated within a traditionally conservative state, Houston’s Mayor, Sylvester Turner — a Democrat and co-chair of Climate Mayors — is often restricted by the rules of a Republican-held state legislature, residents with little incentive to change behaviour and a lack of infrastructure to make the city more sustainable.

Houston is a sprawling city, dominated by cars. The transport sector accounts for nearly half of the 34.3 million tonnes of carbon dioxide the city emits annually, but it’s hard for residents to kick their automobile habit as public transportation options lag. Less than 3% of all commuters use buses, bikes or the light rail for work. And a lack of cycling lanes means that a mere .08% of people hop on their bikes for the same journey.

Houston has expanded its light rail, but it’s main line covers 13 miles and carries 40,000 people daily. Compare that to Boston’s most popular light rail, for example, which is 23 miles long and carries an average of 160,000 passengers a day.

Although city officials have signalled a willingness to build out public transportation networks, the Federal Transportation Authority in Texas — which provides funds for infrastructure projects — and state officials designate more money for highways than for public transit projects.

Rather than leave it up to state legislators, the city is trying to create change on its terms.

In November 2019, residents will be able to vote for a $3.5 billion bond to fund public transport projects. The bond would secure a 75-mile expansion for bus routes, 16 miles for light rails, and $600 million for new bus stops and sidewalks.

The city has also started a bike-share program and has now produced a plan to get more electric vehicles on the road by 2030.

What you can do

Every city has a unique set of problems that may block an easy route to zero carbon economies, but Cottingham said that every individual public servant can make an impact by aiming to get climate change on the agenda.

And while New York may appear to have it easy when implementing climate legislation, with overwhelming support from citizens and Democrat-led state and local legislatures, public servants there also have run into problems.

The key to getting movement on environmental legislation is to not politicise climate change, said both Cottingham and Zarrilli. If public servants focus on science and relay how climate policies can address all areas of life, more people will be willing to participate.

“There’s a fundamental misunderstanding that its a niche environmental concern,” said Zarelli. “But if you can make that same case for housing or national security, for example, that climate change is making all of our challenges worse, it can help people break that misconception that it’s just an environmental conversation.” - Amelia Axelsen

(Picture credit: Pixabay)