[Washington DC]President Barack Obama Discusses Climate Threat With Mayors And Summons Army of Advocates
As mayors from across the USA gather with President Barack Obama in Washington, D.C. for the 50th National League of Cities (NLC) Congressional City Conference, local climate action is taking center stage. Since the effects of climate change, which impose a serious threat to nation’s communities, are felt most urgently at the community level, local governments are leaders in strengthening the response to climate change.
NLC is the nation’s largest and most representative membership and advocacy organization for city officials, comprised of more than 19,000 cities, towns, and villages representing more than 218 million Americans. Its members consistently place climate action as a top priority.
President Obama Said
, “I recognize the importance of leading by example and have called on the NLC membership to become an “army of advocates” to work with the federal government to assist and support state, local, and tribal action on climate change.
In Salt Lake City, Utah, we are the proverbial canary in the coalmine, thanks to our unique geography. Since mountains ring our city, air pollution often becomes trapped during the winter months, resulting in poor air quality and health alerts until the next storm literally clears the air. Additionally, as the climate warms and the snow pack from those nearby mountains is impacted, our water supply for the entire region is threatened.For this reason, we’ve piloted many air quality and water quality/conservation programs that involve our nonprofit, business, and faith communities, with everyone working together towards a common goal”.
President Talks About Preparations for the Future
President Obama Said
While we have been fortunate not to face a catastrophic climate event to date in Salt Lake City, we are aggressively preparing for future climate challenges. We realize that the investments we make today in addressing these challenges will not only make Salt Lake City more resilient, but also will improve our citizens’ health and the ensure the future livability of our community.