MADISON, Wis. — Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway has been tapped as the next leader of Climate Mayors, a bi-partisan network of hundreds of U.S. mayors who work to prioritize climate solutions within their cities.
The group announced Wednesday that Rhodes-Conway will serve as the 2023 Chair, alongside vice-chairs Mayor Kate Gallego of Phoenix and Mayor Justin Bibb of Cleveland. Rhodes-Conway previously served as vice-chair in 2021 and 2022; she was also a member of the group’s steering committee since 2020.
Houston mayor Sylvester Turner led the organization throughout 2022.
“I’m honored to serve as Climate Mayors chair at this critical time for climate action in cities,” Rhodes-Conway said. “Cities have long been our climate leaders, and during my time as Climate Mayors chair, I am eager to work with other Mayors, the federal government, and numerous partners to help ensure that the unprecedented federal investments in climate solutions reach U.S. cities and their residents.”
Rhodes-Conway said a top priority for her new role will be helping other cities take advantage of the climate solutions included in the Inflation Reduction Act.
Since taking office in 2019, Rhodes-Conway has made climate adaptability and preparedness a key part of her agenda. Projects like Bus Rapid Transit, Rhodes-Conway has said, will bring clean and reliable forms of transportation to the rapidly growing city.
RELATED: Madison, state leaders break ground on city’s bus rapid transit system
As part of her “Climate Forward” initiative launched in 2021, Rhodes-Conway introduced a goal of having all municipal operations powered by renewable energy by 2030. Upgrades to Madison’s stormwater system — made after a large storm caused widespread flooding in 2018 — have also made the citer better equipped to deal with shifting and more extreme weather events.
COPYRIGHT 2022 BY CHANNEL 3000. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THIS MATERIAL MAY NOT BE PUBLISHED, BROADCAST, REWRITTEN OR REDISTRIBUTED.
