Turner eyes progress toward 'a renewed sense of international climate cooperation'

Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner was one of 19 mayors of major cities around the world to participate in a virtual discussion on May 10 with Secretary of State John Kerry on how to deal with global climate change.

The program called the “C40 Cities” meeting featured Kerry, appointed as U.S. Special Envoy for Climate, and was hosted by Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti. The discussion centered on the goal of achieving cooperation and consensus among city leaders on dealing with climate change.  

"I was honored to join C40 Cities and 18 other mayors from 13 countries in a conversation with John Kerry to discuss collaborations on climate initiatives and continue momentum around a renewed sense of international climate cooperation," Turner tweeted on Monday.

Kerry was quoted in a C40 Cities press release saying climate change and warming of the earth’s temperature is a global challenge that must be achieved through concerted efforts.

"The climate crisis demands leadership, and mayors around the world are providing it through bold and ambitious commitments and actions, in pursuit of a green and just recovery,” Kerry said in the release. “We will work with them as part of a global movement to fight climate change and build a better, greener, and more equitable future.”

A goal adopted by the Paris Agreement is to limit temperature rise globally to 1.5 degrees C above pre-industrial levels by the cutting of greenhouse emissions.

Signed in 2016, the U.S. withdrew from the Paris Agreement in 2020 but rejoined in 2021. A total of 196 participating parties and countries pledged to plan and submit reports on how they will mitigate global warming and the progress being made.

The virtual talks also discussed recovery around the world from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Garcetti also urged cities and countries to work together to deal with the challenges.

“The problems we face as a global society – whether rising emissions, a deadly virus, or economic upheaval – aren’t limited by municipal borders or national boundaries, so know our solutions can’t be either,” Garcetti said in the release. “With the Biden Administration restoring America’s climate leadership worldwide, partnerships like the one between C40 Mayors and Secretary Kerry are instrumental in advancing our collective vision for an equitable, low-carbon recovery from the pandemic.”

In January, Turner became the chair of Climate Mayors, the cities' arm of the organization representing 470 mayors of major cities across the U.S. The ultimate goal is to achieve a carbon-neutral position by the year 2050.

Turner and the city of Houston launched a climate action plan on Earth Day of last year.