Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner now leads the association of Climate Mayors. Turner replaces Martin Walsh of Boston as the chair of the organization. Walsh was appointed Secretary of Labor by President Joe Biden. Congratulations to Houston’s own!
Mayor @SylvesterTurner has long demonstrated a strong commitment to climate action, and I know that he will work to keep this at the heart of our COVID-19 recovery efforts. https://t.co/2DRP2pNlAM
— Mayor Marty Walsh (@marty_walsh) January 28, 2021
The Climate Mayors coalition is comprised of 427 mayors across the country (overseeing a population of 74 million) who are individually committed to fighting climate change in their cities. In his new role, Mayor Turner will help catalyze climate-forward actions taken at the local level, provide an example of climate action for leaders at all levels of government, and advocate for an economic recovery grounded in equity and environmental stewardship. He’s proven himself as a visionary leader, focusing on initiatives that transition the Energy Capital of the World to a clean energy future and increasing the resilience of communities across the City of Houston, prioritizing health, job creation, equity, and sustainability.
Cities are powerful drivers in the race against climate change. Mayors are investing in clean energy, greening our economies, and creating more sustainable and resilient communities across the U.S.
— Sylvester Turner (@SylvesterTurner) January 29, 2021
Honored to be named next @ClimateMayors Chair. https://t.co/YqeCuW5K3b
📸: 2017 pic.twitter.com/s5DIfnOF2z
Mayor Turner has been a long-standing climate champion for the City of Houston, having served as Mayor during Hurricane Harvey and enduring multiple 500-year storms in just four years. As part of the City’s recovery efforts, Mayor Turner launched RESILIENT HOUSTON on February 12th, 2020, and the Houston CLIMATE ACTION PLAN on Earth Day’s 50th Anniversary on April 22nd, 2020.
Under Mayor Turner’s leadership, the City of Houston has committed to purchasing 100% renewable energy and is the largest municipal user of renewable energy in the nation. As part of this effort, the City recently approved the SUNNYSIDE SOLAR PROJECT – a public-private partnership to convert a 240-acre closed landfill in one of Houston’s most vulnerable communities into the largest urban solar farm in the nation.
Congratulations Mayor Turner, I wouldn't expect anything less from you! Your standards are always impeccably high and people recognize that!
— Samir Becic (@SamirBecic) January 29, 2021
