City of Mesa | City of Mesa website
City of Mesa | City of Mesa website
Mesa Mayor John Giles announced today that Mesa will be joining Bloomberg Philanthropies' new Youth Climate Action Fund, a program aimed at activating young people to design and implement urgent climate solutions. Mayor Giles expressed his enthusiasm for the initiative, stating, “Through the Youth Climate Action Fund, Bloomberg Philanthropies empowers municipalities to engage our young people towards local climate action, and engaging our community is a pillar of our Climate Action Plan.”
The Youth Climate Action Fund, which includes Mesa alongside 100 mayors from around the world, will provide technical assistance and funding to mobilize young individuals aged 15 to 24 in creating impactful climate solutions across cities globally. Mesa has been granted $50,000 to allocate as microgrants for youth-led climate initiatives, with the potential to receive an additional $100,000 for further projects if the initial funds are committed within six months.
Michael R. Bloomberg, UN Special Envoy on Climate Ambition and Solutions, emphasized the importance of involving young people in addressing climate change, stating, “Climate change is an all-hands-on-deck challenge, and it’s critical that young people – who have the most at stake – help lead the way.”
The program aims to support a variety of youth-driven initiatives, including awareness campaigns, climate mitigation projects, and co-governed climate action plans. Mesa will soon launch the application process for young residents aged 15-24 to submit their ideas for funding, covering a range of projects from community gardening to disaster preparedness programs.
The Bloomberg Philanthropies Youth Climate Action Fund is part of a larger effort to empower cities to tackle climate change and engage youth in innovative solutions. Mesa's participation in the program reflects its commitment to proactive environmental stewardship and collaboration with its younger residents.
The 100 cities selected to participate in the fund, alongside Mesa, include Athens, Greece; Casablanca, Morocco; Flint, Michigan; Glasgow, United Kingdom; and Melbourne, Australia.
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