A recent Smart Growth America article highlights the ways in which cities can commit to reducing emissions and steps mayors can take to achieve the Climate Actions Agenda goals.
Some of the steps highlighted in the article are investing in electric cars and clean energy and building walkable neighborhoods which are served by transit. Compact, walkable neighborhoods are efficient because they reduce the need to use a car and reduce water and energy use. And as Smart Growth America mentions, compact, walkable neighborhoods are in demand, which is good news for people worried about climate.
Other steps mayors can take:
- Make walking and biking safer by adopting a Complete Streets approach
- Make public transit a priority
- Adopt policies that make it easier to locate homes and businesses near transit
- Allow mixed-use development
- Rethink street networks so that they connect and not end in a cul-de-sac
In Mercer County, Princeton’s Mayor Liz Lempert signed the Climate Mayors open letter to adopt and uphold the climate goals. Some of the highlights are:
- Adding a new electric vehicle charging station on the first level of the Spring Street Garage
- Adding a new temporary parklet in front of jaZams along Palm Square which will serve as a playful environment to educate people about renewable energy sources
- Committing to reducing the municipal environmental footprint by producing less waste and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
- And a new solar project over the former River Road landfill.
So far, over 270 mayors have committed to uphold the climate goals. And all of us can also commit to taking small steps to support them and the Climate Action Agenda by changing the way we drive and how we drive, use less energy, take public transit, and being more aware of our environmental footprint.