The $200 million philanthropic initiative launched at the annual U.S. Conference of Mayors follows city and state backlash against the Trump Administration’s decision to withdraw from the Paris climate agreement.
The move is a response to “impotence” and “dysfunction” in Washington, D.C., said former New York mayor Michael Bloomberg.
“Cities have begun to play a vital role in determining our nation’s reputation as a global superpower.” New Orleans’ Mayor Mitch Landrieu called on cities to lead national policy “by the accumulation of our individual efforts.”
More than 300 cities have pledged to uphold Paris agreement commitments. The new initiative will cultivate city leadership; advance policies on education, climate change, and the opioid addiction crisis; and citizen empowerment.
Half the grants from Bloomberg Philanthropies will go toward leadership development in city halls.
