Local Legislation

Mayors from all over the world, including the US, are taking steps to lower emissions. 12 major US cities aim to become carbon neutral by 2050, and over 300 cities have promised to follow the goals set by the Paris Agreement. Even though cities don't have as much control over emissions as state and federal governments, they still have a say in the matter. For example, they can't set their own rules for vehicle emissions, but they can purchase electric buses, provide funding for more electric vehicle charging stations, use zoning laws to make housing more compact to reduce travel, and limit the use of fossil-fuel vehicles on roads. Cities can also enforce green building policies, switch to electric vehicles for their fleets, and set guidelines for buildings owned by the city. In some cities, like Seattle, Nashville, and Austin, the local utility company is owned by the city, giving them control over the cleanliness of their electricity source. These cities can also allow clean energy projects on city-owned land. City councils can act similarly to state legislatures and the U.S. Congress by funding climate initiatives and requiring local government agencies to take action. These local agencies have different responsibilities, like building departments enforcing energy efficiency standards, transit agencies switching to electric vehicles, and waste management agencies managing their vehicle fleets and reducing emissions from landfills.

Gates, Bill. How to Avoid a Climate Disaster (pp. 213-214). Penguin Books Ltd. Kindle Edition.