Mayor Frank G. Jackson is joining the Mayors National Climate Action Agenda, a network of nearly 200 U.S. mayors representing over 50 million Americans in fighting climate change. The group of mayors is working together to strengthen local efforts for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and supporting efforts for binding federal and global-level policymaking.

Per a statement from the Mayor's office, climate policy in Washington will not affect plans underway in Cleveland to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 80 percent by 2050. That goal is part of the Office of Sustainability’s Cleveland Climate Action Plan.

“We’re in support of a worldwide climate action plan and we are committed to doing our part here in Cleveland. It is simply the right thing to do,” said Jackson in the statement. “We have a responsibility to leave for future generation a more green, vibrant and healthy Cleveland."

In addition, Cleveland Institute of Art (CIA) and Cleveland State University have both signed the We Are Still In open letter, which states in part:

"It is imperative that the world know that in the U.S., the actors that will provide the leadership necessary to meet our Paris commitment are found in city halls, state capitals, colleges and universities, investors and businesses.

"Together, we will remain actively engaged with the international community as part of the global effort to hold warming to well below two degrees Celsius and to accelerate the transition to a clean energy economy that will benefit our security, prosperity, and health."

CIA President Grafton J. Nunes said of the commitment: “Stewardship of the environment needs to be among our highest callings, and it certainly is a critical challenge for artists and designers," he noted in a statement. "Our faculty emphasizes sustainable solutions with students, although frankly most of our students have grown up with an innate understanding that they were living in an era of a changing climate. But we guide them as they consider what materials and processes they use in their art making. Some of them consider how to use their skills and social agency to improve the environment.

“We also model awareness of our environmental impact, through efforts to reduce the impact of our campus facilities,” Nunes added. The school's green efforts include a 300-panel solar array on the roof of the Gund building, a native-species garden atop the Peter B. Lewis Theater and the ongoing replacement of compact fluorescent lighting with high efficiency LED lights in the Gund building.

Fresh Water realizes that this list is not likely complete. We apologize if other area organizations have committed to the Paris Agreement. Any omissions are unintentional.

The Cleveland Institute of Art is part of Fresh Water's underwriting support network.