City of Atlanta Recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for Innovative Climate Change Initiatives

March 3,2017

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 3, 2017

News Release

City of Atlanta Recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for Innovative Climate Change Initiatives

Climate Policies Director Dr. Jairo Garcia honored with Individual Leadership Award

ATLANTA – Mayor Kasim Reed announced today that the City of Atlanta received the 2017 Climate Leadership Award – Partnership Award Certificate from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for its efforts to promote energy and water conservation through the Atlanta Better Buildings Challenge and the Climate Action Plan. The Certificate for Innovative Partnership recognizes organizations working collaboratively on leading edge climate initiatives. EPA also honored Dr. Jairo Garcia, Director of Climate Policies and Renewables in the Office of Resilience, with the Individual Leadership award in recognition of his extraordinary leadership in response to climate change. The awards were presented at the annual Climate Leadership Conference, held this year in Chicago, Illinois on March 1-3, 2017.

“For the past three years, Atlanta has led the nation in total commercial property committed to energy and water efficiency best practices, and we are proud to be recognized by the U.S. EPA for our dedication to conservation and sustainability,” said Mayor Kasim Reed. “We are also proud of Dr. Jairo Garcia, who has been the driving force behind the City of Atlanta’s climate and resilience efforts. He has demonstrated leadership by bringing together local climate experts, community leaders and legislators to develop and adopt the first municipal Climate Action Plan in Georgia. Through this plan, Atlanta is now an internationally-recognized leader in transparency and reporting.”

The Atlanta Better Buildings Challenge has a goal of reducing energy and water consumption by at least 20 percent in participating buildings across Atlanta by 2020. To date, the City of Atlanta has the most building space committed to the challenge of any city in the nation. In addition, the City of Atlanta has already achieved its 20 percent water reduction goal and has reduced its energy consumption portfolio by 17 percent. 

In conjunction with the U.S. Department of Energy, the Atlanta Better Buildings Challenge is locally led by the City of Atlanta Mayor’s Office of Sustainability and Office of Resilience, and managed by a group of core partners including Central Atlanta Progress, Midtown Alliance, Livable Buckhead and Southface. 

Atlanta’s Climate Action Plan takes advantage of common sense approaches and cutting-edge policies that local government is uniquely positioned to implement. The plan outlines actions that can reduce energy and water usage and waste generation, while creating local jobs, improving air quality and preserving the local landscape and history of Atlanta for years to come. 

The annual Climate Leadership Conference, a partnership program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions, and The Climate Registry, convenes a global audience of climate, energy, and sustainability professionals to address climate change through policy, innovation, and business solutions. Now in its sixth year, the 2017 event hosted the nation's climate leaders and decision-makers to further accelerate a low-carbon economy.

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For more information about the City of Atlanta, please visit http://www.atlantaga.gov or watch City Channel 26. Follow the City of Atlanta on Facebook and Twitter @CityofAtlanta. Follow Mayor Reed on Facebook and Twitter @Kasim Reed