Kansas City region is in the international spotlight on climate. This is our chance
Being a Kansas City metropolitan area native, I know the unique opportunities this region affords. Rooted in community, guided by a Midwestern work ethic, and inspired to greatness, leadership to tackle some of the world’s greatest challenges has come from our Paris on the Plains. President Dwight D. Eisenhower said it well: “Whatever America hopes to bring to pass in the world must first come to pass in the heart of America.”
In the last three years, I’ve been proud to work with hundreds of you as we plan for a resilient future for Kansas City. The climate crisis we face is having demonstrable effects across the world, and we know that Kansas City is not immune from these realities. Knowing the challenge, our residents have stepped up to embrace the many opportunities this region affords. The Regional Climate Action Plan, created by Climate Action KC and the Mid-America Regional Council, provides a platform from which to build, accelerate and scale up existing efforts through new models of collaboration.
The interrelated strategies highlighted in the plan help to not only mitigate climate change, but also build a more resilient, equitable, economically vibrant, and healthy community. These strategies promote growth in Kansas City businesses big and small — both those with an international scope and those working on climate solutions like energy efficiency in small buildings. It is no coincidence that the good things we need to do for the environment have demonstrable, calculable benefits in a variety of sectors throughout our community.
We realize, though, that work in Kansas City alone is not enough to stop climate change. Luckily, we are not alone. Continuing this week, international leaders are gathering in Glasgow, Scotland, at the United Nations’ COP26 climate conference to set new targets and discuss emerging trends on how we might improve health and prosperity throughout the world. I am deeply honored to be invited to share our area’s efforts on a panel discussing the acceleration of local climate action in medium and small municipalities across the Americas.
Together with leaders from Canada, Brazil and Argentina, I’m excited to share examples of the good things that we’ve been doing together, and hopefully learn more about what else we might accomplish in the coming years. More than anything, I am proud to share the idea of cooperation across borders. While we still may have strong divergent allegiances during college basketball season, our region comes together and, despite preordained jurisdictional boundaries, actively improves the lives of all 2.2 million residents. This is a great model.
Our example resonates with international leaders, and we are happy to show them more of what Kansas City has to offer. Recently, our metropolitan area was selected to participate in the International Urban and Regional Cooperation North America program. Through the program, delegates from the area will participate in an exchange program visiting international partners to discuss themes around climate change and the impending building renovation wave, education, job creation, and economic innovation.
The Kansas City cohort leading the IURC effort locally includes local elected officials and staff from various municipalities, the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce, the Mid-America Regional Council, Climate Action KC, the Building Energy Exchange, the Keystone Innovation District and KC Rising, among others. Kansas City will welcome representatives from 18 international cities participating in the program to Climate Action KC’s annual summit in April 2022, with the culmination event taking place at Johnson County Community College on April 9.
This opportunity to convene an international audience around the topic of climate mitigation will help Kansas City as we move our region toward a net zero economy, and in doing so attract new business, create new jobs, improve infrastructure and advance the quality of life for current and future Kansas Citians. I know that Kansas City will seize the moment.