Cuyahoga County Pledges To Fight Climate Change

CLEVELAND, OH — Cuyahoga County has signed onto the Compact of Mayors, a cooperative effort between local government officials to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, track progress, and prepare for the impacts of climate change. The county announced its decision on Friday. Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson announced in June the city would also uphold the Paris Climate Agreement.

President Donald Trump announced in early June that he would pull the U.S. out of the Paris Climate Agreement, a global effort to fight climate change. He described the agreement as "draconian" and claimed it disproportionately targeted the U.S. and its economy.

The nation's withdrawal from the agreement was met with disdain on the international stage, and has been met with mixed reactions domestically. In Northeast Ohio, many mayors have signed onto either the Compact of Mayors or the Climate Mayors group.

Cuyahoga County is now joining the Compact of Mayors, county executive Armond Budish said. (To stay up to date on local stories, subscribe to the Patch Cleveland newsletter. As news breaks and the story develops, you will be the first to receive updates from Patch.)

"President Trump's decision to pull out of the Paris Agreement is harmful to the health of the planet and to the health of Cuyahoga County and its residents," Budish said in a statement. "We must do all we can to protect the health of the citizens of our county, both today and into the future. We will do our part to adhere to and even exceed the targets set by the Paris Accords. We will develop a Climate Change Action Plan in accordance with standards set up by the Compact of Mayors."

The Compact of Mayors was created by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and his Special Envoy for Cities and Climate Change, in conjunction with former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg. The group seeks to build a robust data network of climate change in various municipalities, encourage the public and private sectors to pursue climate friendly tactics and investments in renewable energy, and demonstrations of climate friendly commitments.

"Over the course of the next six months, we will be measuring in detail the greenhouse gases that come out of Cuyahoga County and work with partner agencies and governments including the City of Cleveland to set greenhouse gas reduction goals, strategies to achieve the goals and ways for our local region to deal with the issues that Climate Change presents to us," said Mike Foley, director, Cuyahoga County Department of Sustainability, in a statement.

Cleveland is also part of the Compact of Mayors. The city is currently gathering data on various climate change relevant topics. As that data is shared, a profile of risks facing the city will be developed.

"We're in support of a worldwide climate action plan and we are committed to doing our part here in Cleveland. It is simply the right thing to do," Jackson said in a statement. "We have a responsibility to leave for future generation a more green, vibrant and healthy Cleveland."

Jackson is one of 200 other mayors in the Climate Mayors group, including Chicago's Mayor Rahm Emanuel, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter, Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh, and Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner.

Read more on Northeast Ohio and climate change in these stories and columns:

• Americans, skeptical of Trump's "dereliction of duty" on climate, must lead where he will not
• Cleveland Vows To Fight Climate Change
• Governor Kasich Blasts Paris Climate Accord Withdrawal

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