Climate Mayors, previously known as the Mayors National Climate Action Agenda, is a membership coalition of mayors from cities across the United States interested in environmentalist policies. ¹ It is a project of the left-of-center environmentalist group Resources Legacy Fund. ²

Background

Climate Mayors, previously known Mayors National Climate Action Agenda, is a membership coalition founded in 2014 as a project of the Resources Legacy Fund, a left-of-center grantmaking and environmentalist conservation group. The project was founded during an event hosted by the Clinton Global Initiative. Initially, the purpose of the organization was to increase support for the 2015 Paris Agreement, a climate-change mitigation treaty ratified at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Paris, France, which took effect of November 4, 2016. ^{3 4 5 1 2}

As of September 2025, Climate Mayors claims its network consists of nearly 350 mayors in 46 states. ¹

Policies

In July 2025, in a letter to members of both the U.S. House and Senate Appropriations Committees, the organization’s executive director Kate Wright advocated for increased funding of federal policies and programs such as the Low-Income Household Energy Assistance Program; the Low or No Emission (Low No) program; the Promoting Resilient Operations for Transformative, Efficient, and Cost-Saving Transportation Program; the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities Program; the Clean Water State Revolving Loan Fund; Urban and Community Forestry Program; Energy Star; the Community Development Block Grant; and the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. ⁶

Business Council

Climate Mayors maintains a “Business Council,” or a network of businesses which can join by meeting required criteria. According to the group’s website, corporations and business can join at different levels based on fee and degree of benefits. As of 2025, the council’s bronze level costs corporate members $15,000 and allows them to attend a bi-annual virtual membership meeting and an annual in-person event while giving recognition in the organization’s newsletter. The group’s platinum level costs $75,000 “and above” and provides members with all previous benefits in addition to speaking opportunities at annual events, logo placement in the organization’s email communications, and being highlighted in the organization’s newsletter. ^{7 5}

According to its website, criteria for joining the business council include sector alignment, a commitment to supporting the organization’s environmentalist positions, and not being engaged in businesses including firearms, tobacco, and traditional fuels. ⁷

Leadership

Kate Wright is the executive director of Climate Mayors. Previously, she was the CEO of CivicWell (formerly the Local Government Commission). ⁸

Matt Petersen is the chair of Climate Mayors’ board of directors. Previously, he was the chief sustainability officer for the City of Los Angeles. ⁹

Mayor Kate Gallego (D) is the chair of the leadership team at Climate Mayors as well as the Mayor of Phoenix, Arizona. Previously, she served as a member of the Phoenix City Council and worked on economic development for the Salt River Project, a local utility company. ¹⁰

Laura Jay is the deputy director of Climate Mayors. Previously, she was the regional director for North America for C40 Cities, the project manager at Terrapin Bright Green, and a staffer member with the U.S. Green Building Council. ¹¹

Rachel Paris is the membership and communications manager of Climate Mayors. Previously, she was a senior advisor to the Communications and Research department of the Climate Action Campaign. ¹²

Jessica Stoll Lowery is a project manager for Climate Mayors. Previously, she was a program manager at the Electrification Coalition and an employee with AmeriCorps VISTA in the City of Indianapolis. ¹³

1. “Who We Are.” Climate Mayors. Accessed September 22, 2025. https://www.climatemayors.org/who-we-are 
2. “Programs and Projects.” Resources Legacy Fund. Accessed October 20, 2025. Archived from the original February 15, 2025. https://web.archive.org/web/20250215062916/https://resourceslegacyfund.org/programs/
3. “10 years ago during Climate Week …” Instagram: Climate Mayors. September 27, 2024. Accessed September 22, 2025. https://www.instagram.com/p/DAbMyQjOOaY/?img_index=3 
4. “The Paris Agreement.” United Nations: Climate Change. Accessed September 22, 2025. https://unfccc.int/process-and-meetings/the-paris-agreement 
5. Nunno, Richard. “Fact Sheet | The U.S. Climate Alliance and Related Actions.” Environmental and Energy Study Institute. August 14, 2017. Accessed September 22, 2025. https://www.eesi.org/papers/view/fact-sheet-the-u.s.-climate-alliance-and-related-actions 
6. Wright, Kate. “On behalf of Climate Mayors …” Climate Mayors. July 7, 2025. Accessed September 22, 2025. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/6559a0eea511ed3e8294b547/t/687176168a62a7729da2bdd2/1752266262292/Climate+Mayors+FY26+Priorities+Letter_FINAL.pdf 
7. “Business Council.” Climate Mayors. Accessed September 22, 2025. https://www.climatemayors.org/business-council 
8. “Kate Wright, Executive Director.” Climate Mayors. Accessed September 22, 2025. https://www.climatemayors.org/kate-wright 
9. “Matt Petersen, Board Chair.” Climate Mayors. Accessed September 22, 2025. https://www.climatemayors.org/matt-petersen 
10. “Kate Gallego, Chair.” Climate Mayors. Accessed September 22, 2025. https://www.climatemayors.org/kate-gallego 
11. “Laura Jay, Deputy Director.” Climate Mayors. Accessed September 22, 2025. https://www.climatemayors.org/laura-jay 
12. “Rachel Paris, Membership & Communications Manager.” Climate Mayors. Accessed September 22, 2025. https://www.climatemayors.org/rachel-paris 
13. “Jessica Stoll Lowery, Project Manager.” Climate Mayors. Accessed September 22, 2025. https://www.climatemayors.org/jessica-stoll-lowery