ENCORE: Cities Leading the Way

While federal climate leadership in the U.S. has faltered under recent administrations, cities are emerging as the true engine of climate action. In a powerful encore episode of Climate One, former Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti and Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego reveal how urban centers are driving decarbonization with bold, on-the-ground strategies—even when national policy retreats. Garcetti recounts how LA transformed from a city with just 2% renewable energy to one on track for 100% by 2035, leveraging public utilities, citizen organizing, and scientific modeling to overcome political and bureaucratic resistance. He emphasizes that cities like LA, through networks like C40, are decarbonizing five times faster than national governments and are now leading global climate diplomacy. Meanwhile, Phoenix, facing extreme heat and a booming tech economy, has created a permanent Office of Heat Response, deployed cool pavement, prioritized tree equity, and pushed for responsible data center development—proving that climate leadership isn’t about waiting for federal permission, but about local innovation and accountability. Together, their stories expose a new reality: the future of climate action isn’t in the halls of Congress, but in city councils, street-level planning, and the relentless work of mayors who act not just as politicians, but as problem-solvers and community builders.