Empowering local leaders to drive climate action
Mayors, community leaders, and civic organizations are the changemakers of their cities, dedicated to building a safe and healthy future for generations to come.
At Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), we empower local leaders with the resources and support needed to drive impactful climate action through infrastructure, economic progress, environmental justice, and a clean energy transition.
Resources and tools
-
Toolkit for local climate action
Developed in partnership with the African American Mayors Association (AAMA) and Elemental Impact, the Toolkit for Local Climate Action is a roadmap for developing robust climate action plans and seizing funding opportunities to address critical infrastructure and economic needs.
-
IRATracker
The Inflation Reduction Act Tracker tool can help cities and mayors keep track of the Inflation Reduction Act’s (IRA) climate change and environmental justice funding opportunities.
-
Climate Vulnerability Index
The U.S. Climate Vulnerability Index (CVI) uses 184 data sets to rank over 70,000 census tracts, helping local leaders identify climate risks and prioritize actions to strengthen community resilience.
-
Chemical exposure map
EDF's Chemical Exposure Action map visualizes industrial chemical exposures and health impacts in communities, helping local leaders advocate for cumulative risk assessments and send tailored messages to the EPA for urgent action.
-
LSL replacement map
EDF’s Lead Service Line Replacement Program Map highlights over 200 communities working to replace lead service lines, showing progress and areas of inaction. Local leaders can use the map to see if their community has a replacement program.
Relevant stories and articles
- Blog post
How Long Beach is Leading the Charge Toward a Clean Energy Future
- Op-ed
Katrina’s wake-up call: The urgency of climate action now
- Op-ed
This Earth Day and beyond: Taking action for our health and climate
- Op-ed
From smokestacks to tailpipes: The all-out effort to cut air pollution in neighborhoods across the country
- Article
Meet the civil rights activist fighting environmental injustice
- Article
Families celebrate EPA ban on killer paint stripper chemical
- Article
Just jobs in clean energy: Seizing the moment for economic equity
Our experts
Our experts empower local leaders with resources and support to drive impactful climate action. Connect with some of the people who make it happen.
-
Tonya Howard Calhoun, PhD
Director, Community Engagement
-
Nicholas Glover
Vice President, Build to Zero
-
Michael Ioannou
Senior Analyst, Community Engagement