By Howard Packowitz
The mayors of Bloomington and Normal head to Miami Beach this weekend for the first U.S. Conference of Mayors meeting since President Trump announced the federal government would break away from the international agreement to fight climate change.
Bloomington’s Tari Renner and Normal’s Chris Koos are pledging their communities will adhere to provisions of the Paris Accords.
On his Facebook page, Koos was criticized for making climate change a priority when he should be fixing roads. Koos and Renner contend they are repairing streets. Renner said speaking out against bad public policy is also part of the mayor’s job.
“Humanity benefits from us coming to grips with this,” said Renner.
“We’re going to Miami Beach, for example. That’s where the U.S. Conference of Mayors is being held, and they’re having unbelievable problems with erosion because of the rising water level,” Renner also said.
Renner, Koos, and 244 other U.S. mayors have pledged to increase investments in renewable energy and energy efficiency, buy and create demand for electric cars and trucks, intensify efforts to cut greenhouse gas emissions, among other objectives.
The U.S. Conference of Mayors’ meeting runs Friday through Monday.
Howard Packowitz can be reached at [email protected]
