We all must become leaders in battle vs. climate change

Chicago and Mayor Rahm Emanuel recently hosted an important mayoral climate summit. Mayors and governors are vital players in dealing with climate change. And they need our help.

A few months ago our region suffered serious flooding. Shortly thereafter appeared a report assessing the performance of 100 U. S. urban centers, including Chicago, on the United Nations’ sustainability indicators. Categories included water, climate change, healthy “life on land” and many more. Overall and on every one of the 17 specific sustainability measures, Chicago was nowhere near the top 10 ( or the bottom 10, thankfully).

Here’s the real kicker: Not a single urban center scored high enough to accomplish even half the progress needed to achieve the standards of the Paris climate accord. Most people know that we need to both mitigate ( reduce emissions) and prepare for the coming changes. But whereas Chicago is a beautiful city and rightly proud of being “nature’s metropolis” ( the title of a book about Chicago’s history), we are falling behind as climate change accelerates. When our elected national leaders are not doing enough, more average citizens need to lead from below. More of us need to take initiative, engage in new and more effective conversations, step out of our personal and professional silos ( aka comfort zones), and collaboratively drive new climate solutions. The needs and demand for climate leaders are high and growing, but the supply is low. In Chicago and beyond, the supply of climate leaders must grow.

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