This section includes links to local government and government-related organizations who are fighting climate change. Resources include information for policymakers, conferences, and education materials. Three are highlighted to get you started. Additional resources follow, organized by resource type.
Highlights
| Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy | More than 10,000 cities who are partnering with national and international institutions to tackle climate change through local initiatives, innovative financing models, and sustainable infrastructure. |
| Local Governments for Sustainability | ICLEI | A global network of more than 2,500 local and regional governments committed to sustainable urban development. Active in 125+ countries, it influences sustainability policy and drives local action for low emission, nature-based, equitable, resilient and circular development. |
| Rocky Mountain Institute | RMI is a U.S. based non-partisan non-profit working globally to encourage rapid, market-based change in critical geographies to be aligned to a 1.5°C future. |
Government & Business Programs
| Better Buildings Challenge | As part of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Better Buildings Challenge, leading businesses, manufacturers, cities, states, universities, and school districts commit to improve the energy efficiency of their portfolio of buildings by at least 20% over 10 years and share strategies and results with others. |
| Clean Cities Coalition Network | The U.S. Department of Energy’s Clean Cities Coalition Network operates at two levels. Nationally, the DOE’s Vehicle Technologies Office provides unbiased and objective resources and information to help transportation stakeholders evaluate options and achieve goals around alternative fuels, advanced vehicles, mobility solutions, and other fuel-saving strategies. At the local level, more than 75 coalitions leverage these resources to create networks of local stakeholders that advance transportation projects. |
| Climate Mayors | Climate Mayors is a bipartisan network of more than 470 U.S. mayors encouraging and demonstrating climate leadership through meaningful actions in their communities. Representing 48 states and 74 million Americans, the Climate Mayors coalition reflects participating U.S. cities’ commitment to climate progress. |
| Global Covenant of Mayors | Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy (GCoM) is the largest global alliance for city climate leadership, built upon the commitment of over 11,500 cities and local governments, from six continents and 142 countries. In total, they represent more than one billion people partnering to tackle both climate and economic crises through local initiatives, innovative financing models, and sustainable infrastructure. |
| Local Governments for Sustainability | ICLEI | A global network of more than 2,500 local and regional governments committed to sustainable urban development. Active in 125+ countries, it influences sustainability policy and drives local action for low emission, nature-based, equitable, resilient and circular development. |
| SolSmart | Funded by the U.S. Department of Energy's Solar Energy Technologies Office, and led by the Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC) and the International City/County Management Association (ICMA), SolSmart recognizes cities, counties, and regional organizations for making it faster, easier, and more affordable to go solar. Their national team of experts provides no-cost technical assistance to help local governments and communities become "open for solar business." |
| Sustainable States Network | Fourteen U.S. states and more than 2,000 communities are part of the Sustainable States Network. The organization connects statewide sustainability programs, enabling members to share resources and best practices, foster the success of local initiatives, and collaborate on projects to advance shared goals for education and action on climate goals and clean energy. |
| Urban Sustainability Directors Network | Urban Sustainability Directors Network connects local government professionals across the United States and Canada, sharing best practices that create a healthier environment, economic prosperity, and increased social equity. |
NGO & Not-For-Profit Organizations
| Electrification Coalition | The Electrification Coalition (EC) is a U.S. nonpartisan not-for-profit organization promoting policies and actions to facilitate the accelerated deployment of electric vehicles on a mass scale. The EC and its sister organization, Securing America’s Future Energy (SAFE), have sought to reduce the United States’ dependence on oil, which is currently responsible for powering 92 percent of our transportation system. The goal is developing and implementing strategies to facilitate widespread adoption of electric vehicles. |
| Green Building Certification Institute | Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI) is the premier organization for independently recognizing excellence in green business industry performance and practice on a global basis. Third party verification services for certification and credentialing. Led by a coalition of industry leaders, the organization was founded in 2008. |
| National Complete Streets Coalition | Smart Growth America | Smart Growth America is a nonprofit focused on three specific priorities: Climate change and resilience, advancing racial equity, and creating healthy communities. Its Complete Streets approach integrates people and place in the planning, design, construction, operation, and maintenance of American transportation networks. |
| Renewables Accelerator | American Cities Climate Challenge | The Renewables Accelerator provides updated resources and technical assistance to U.S. cities to advance ambitious renewable energy goals. |
| Rocky Mountain Institute | RMI is a US based nonprofit working globally to encourage rapid, market-based change in critical geographies to be aligned to a 1.5°C future. |
| US Green Building Council (USGBC) | With a mission to transform the way buildings and communities are designed, built and operated, the USGBC focuses on being environmentally and socially responsible while improving prosperity and quality of life. |
Tools
| Bicycle Friendly America℠ - League of American Bicyclists | The League of American Bicyclists aims to create a Bicycle Friendly America for everyone, providing a roadmap and hands-on assistance to build places more welcoming to people who bike. The BFA℠ program is a tool for states, communities, business and universities to make bicycling a real transportation and recreation option for all people. |
| Climate Explorer - NOAA | The U.S. National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Climate Explorer provides interactive graphs and maps showing past and projected climate conditions for counties and county-equivalents across the United States. The tool explores projected future climate conditions that may put people, property, and other assets at risk. |
| Local Government Renewables Action Tracker | American Cities Climate Challenge | The American Cities Climate Challenge Local Government Renewables Action Tracker is an interactive web tool. It presents renewable energy transactions and engagement efforts completed by U.S. cities, counties, community choice aggregations, and tribal governments since 2015. The tool shows how local governments across the United States have used their buying power and collective voice to accelerate the country’s shift to renewable energy. |