Forty-five mayors from around the country signed the Resilient Communities for America Agreement in June, pledging to take actions to protect their communities from disasters and disruptions caused by climate change and urging the federal government to improve preparedness and fund infrastructure upgrades.
The multi-year campaign is intended to prepare communities for the effects of heat waves, floods, droughts, severe storms, wildfires and other extreme weather events. Cities will aim to reduce their carbon footprints, shift to renewable energy sources, improve energy efficiency, evaluate local vulnerabilities to extreme weather and upgrade local infrastructure.
The campaign is coordinated by the U.S. Green Building Council, the National League of Cities, the World Wildlife Fund and Local Governments for Sustainability. Organizers hope to have leadership commitments from 200 local elected officials within 12 months and from 1,000 by 2015.
More information on the program is available at www.resilientamerica.org.