Cleveland Reporter

The $200 million Bloomberg Philanthropies initiative will provide deep support to 25 U.S. cities taking on climate change

Cleveland —  On March 12, 2024, Mayor Justin M. Bibb announced that Cleveland was selected by Bloomberg Philanthropies as one of 25 U.S. cities to join Bloomberg American Sustainable Cities. Bloomberg American Sustainable Cities is a three-year initiative designed to leverage historic levels of federal funding to incubate and implement transformative local solutions to build low-carbon, resilient, and economically thriving communities. Building on the longtime leadership of U.S. cities to confront the overlapping crises of climate change and racial wealth inequity, the $200 million Bloomberg Philanthropies initiative will provide deep support to selected cities to pursue transformative solutions in the buildings and transportation sectors through partnerships with PolicyLink, Bloomberg Center for Public Innovation at Johns Hopkins University, and Natural Resources Defense Council.  

By participating in Bloomberg American Sustainable Cities, Cleveland will receive a Bloomberg Philanthropies-funded innovation team (i-team) with up to three dedicated staff with expertise in data analysis, insight development, human-centered design, systems thinking, and project management to bolster city capacity in driving progress on climate mitigation and promoting equitable outcomes. The city will also receive multi-year, in-depth, customized policy and technical assistance in collaboration with community-based organizations to mobilize public, private, and philanthropic investments.  

“Cleveland has long embraced the responsibility of acting on climate change and environmental stewardship. From former Mayor Carl B. Stokes' historic efforts in 1969 to address environmental injustices, to our present-day climate action planning and implementation initiatives, our city stands as a testament to resilience and innovation,” said Mayor Bibb. “The BASC program in Cleveland will support equitable and more rapid implementation of historical funding at the neighborhood level, enhancing resources in our historically disadvantaged communities and reducing the racial wealth gap. Through this collaborative effort, we will continue to work with residents and key stakeholders to achieve a more equitable and environmentally resilient city for all Clevelanders."  

Cleveland was selected for Bloomberg American Sustainable Cities based on its leadership and ambition to build resilient, equitable communities. Despite historical disinvestment in past decades that increases our residents’ vulnerability to increased precipitation, flooding, air pollutants and higher heat days, the city has persisted in advancing community prosperity and economic development amid the climate crisis. Mayor Bibb and his administration are dedicated to deploying climate solutions at the neighborhood level in order to raise up BIPOC communities -- both economically and environmentally – to improve the health, wealth and safety of residents, with a particular focus on Cleveland’s Southeast Side.  

With over $400 billion in federal funding available to local governments through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act, Bloomberg American Sustainable Cities aims to help cities access and implement the historic funding for critical local projects, especially in disadvantaged communities historically overburdened by pollution. This includes continuing to build on the collaborative federal funding applications such as the Climate Pollution Reduction Grant program and the Solar for All funding applications to the US EPA, and how the Inflation Reduction Act’s Direct Pay provisions can help our city and non-profit organizations expand climate solutions on the ground. Anticipated solutions implemented through the Bloomberg American Sustainable Cities could include developing affordable, energy-efficient housing, investing in electric vehicles and infrastructure, accelerating the transition, and expanding access to clean energy, among others.

Bloomberg American Sustainable Cities is the newest Bloomberg Philanthropies initiative to support local climate action in the United States. In 2019, Bloomberg Philanthropies launched the American Cities Climate Challenge to provide resources and support to 25 of the largest U.S. cities to scale proven high-impact urban climate solutions in the buildings and transportation sectors. With Bloomberg Philanthropies’ support, the 25 Climate Challenge cities passed 54 major buildings, energy, and transportation policies and launched 71 new climate programs and initiatives, which are projected to reduce 74 million metric tons of carbon emissions through 2030. In 2022, Bloomberg Philanthropies galvanized a consortium of nonprofit and expert groups to establish the Local Infrastructure Hub, a national program providing more than 1,200 municipalities with pro-bono expertise to navigate historic funding opportunities made available through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act, develop competitive grant applications, and bring investment home to address essential infrastructure needs. To date, participating municipalities have already been awarded more than $1 billion in federal funding.

Original source can be found here.