Ecological activism has been a way of life for myself and my family as a native Atlantan. I inherited a passion for environmental stewardship from my Dad which has been passed down to my children. Together, we’ve remained committed to protecting our planet and the local Atlanta community through the years.

This is why I’m proud of the vital work the City of Atlanta is doing to tackle climate change. Our Mayor, Kasim Reed, was one of several U.S. mayors that stepped up as a key advocate for climate change action at the COP21, 2015 Paris Climate Conference.

Cities are vitally important to the success of this agreement.

The goal of COP21 was to achieve a legally binding and universal agreement on climate, with the aim of keeping global warming below 2°C. And for the first time in over 20 years of UN negotiations, global consensus was reached. The Paris Accord unites all of the world’s nations in a single agreement on tackling climate change for the first time in history.

I was in Paris with my Dad and son, John R., to attend events held in tandem with the international talks. I was inspired to see the world’s leading mayors playing such a pivotal role at the Conference. Cities are vitally important to the success of this agreement.