Urging all Jurisdictions to Fund Green Banks to meet Climate Change and Resiliency Goals
Adopted at the in 2019
WHEREAS, research from The United States Conference of Mayors shows that cities comprise 91% of the United States' Gross Domestic Product, placing Mayors at the center of marrying environmental protection with economic growth; and
WHEREAS, cities are already having to invest billions of dollars annually in infrastructure and support services to deal with climate change's impacts of heat waves, droughts, and torrential rain events; and
WHEREAS, Congress and the Trump Administration have yet to pass a disaster relief bill to help communities impacted by the ever more damaging and increasingly prevalent natural disasters that are affecting communities across the country; and
WHEREAS, Green Banks are an innovative policy tool that helps attract private investment to leverage existing public funding to increase total project investments; and
WHEREAS, as a financial tool, Green Banks can be used by residents and / or businesses to do more sustainable projects by offering loans, leases, credit enhancements and other financial services to close funding gaps for clean energy projects and energy efficiency improvements; and
WHEREAS, Green Banks are already used by states and countries to finance projects that create new green jobs, expand solar power, lower energy costs, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve resilience, and meet sustainability and climate goals;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that The United States Conference of Mayors calls upon the Trump Administration and Congress to support communities affected by climate change by providing integral funding;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Mayors of The United States Conference of Mayors support Green Banks as an integral part of funding sustainability and resiliency projects.