‘America is All In’ to Combat Climate Change and so is Park City

A Park City Transit bus leaving the Kimball Junction Transit Center. Photo: TownLift // Bailey Edelstein.

PARK CITY, Utah. — Tomorrow, Dec. 12, marks the fifth anniversary of the Paris Climate Agreement, and more than 1,000 leaders across multiple sectors of the United States have joined the America is All In statement to combat climate change. Park City Municipal is on that list.

The coalition We are Still In is the parent of the America is All In initiative. According to its website, “We Are Still In is a joint declaration of support for climate action, signed by more than 3,900 CEOs, mayors, governors, tribal leaders, college presidents, faith leaders, health care executives, and others.”

Eyee Hsu, Parkite and Co-chair of Mountain Town 2030, an initiative founded by Park City Municipal and the Park City Community Foundation to help mountain towns reach net zero by 2030, weighed in on the significance on the We Are Still In campaign: “It affirms that climate change is still a priority for this nation,” Hsu said. “While the national commitment to climate action may have wavered in recent years, Park City and Summit County’s commitment to net zero has remained steadfast thanks to the visionary leadership in Park City’s government, business and nonprofit sectors.”

A little refresher on the Paris Climate Agreement: It was signed in 2016 by nearly every nation in the world pledging commitment to implement changes to reduce carbon emissions, especially the world’s top carbon emitters: China, the United States, India, Russia and Japan. In 2017, President Trump announced the United States was leaving the agreement, and now, America is All In is working to counter the country’s years of inaction while looking toward a more environmentally conscious Biden-Harris administration.

“Now is the time to sustainably and equitably re-imagine our approach to climate action,” said Mayor Andy Beerman in a press release. “…Park City’s climate programs are showing what’s possible and inspiring other communities across the country. We will continue to seek out partners and innovative projects to accelerate our actions. We are ‘All In’ to find solutions to the climate crisis.”

Park City Municipal’s goals for a more sustainable community include achieving carbon net-zero for city operations by 2022 and have 100 % renewable electricity community-wide by 2030.

“Our community continues to make steady progress toward its net zero goals, and is amplifying its impact by collaborating with other mountain communities towards collective action,” Hsu said. “I’m excited by what next year and the years ahead will bring.”