New American Road Trip Brings Climate Solutions Home
Two-Week Electric Vehicle Tour Elevates Local Climate Heroes & Sparks National Conversation
NEW YORK, NY – On September 27, the “New American Road Trip” made its final stop in New York City, bringing to a close a two-week cross-country trip that highlighted the stories of the people, cities and emerging technologies that are fulfilling America’s Pledge on climate change, creating jobs and economic prosperity while reducing climate pollution and ensuring our country’s clean energy future. Through sunshine, rain, and even tornadoes, the tour successfully traveled from San Francisco to New York City. The message from the people along the way is clear: America is “still in” the fight against climate change, and local communities are leading the charge.
The clean energy workers at solar, wind plants and those working to build electric cars and buses are some of the unsung heroes on the frontlines of reducing climate pollution in their local communities. This tour has highlighted these Americans along with innovators, job creators, community activists and political and business leaders driving America’s clean energy future on social media and will continue to produce video content about these stories and people.
Along the journey, “The New American Road Trip” held marquee public events in Las Vegas, Boulder, St. Louis and Pittsburgh, and awarded a total of $40,000 to local innovators who are addressing climate change in their communities. Hundreds of people across the four cities joined the tour to celebrate their local climate heroes, bringing together public servants, business leaders and community members to spark local action on building a clean energy future. Comedians, celebrities, mayors, governors, and many others hitched a ride and offered a glimpse into how local leaders across the United States are making substantial progress to achieve the climate goals under the Paris Agreement, despite inaction from the federal government. Celebrities and comedians participating in the road trip include actor, singer and activist Aidan Gallagher; actors Nikolaj Coster-Waldau and Oscar Nunez; actress and Grammy- nominated singer Antonique Smith; and Comedians JC Coccoli and Jo Firestone.
The tour began on September 14 at the Global Climate Action Summit in San Francisco, where summit co-chairs California Governor Jerry Brown, UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Climate Action Michael R. Bloomberg, Mahindra Group CEO Anand Mahindra, UN Secretary-General’s Youth Special Envoy Jayathma Wickramanayake and UN Climate Change Executive Secretary Patricia Espinosa presented a call to action to be signed by city and state officials, business leaders, and local climate heroes across America declaring their commitment to climate action and encouraging more ambitious steps from national and international leaders.
Nikolaj Coster-Waldau helps kick off the “New American Road Trip” in San Francisco
In Las Vegas, UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Climate Action Michael R. Bloomberg and Antonique Smith rallied over 100 people in a fiery speech to kick off the second stop on the tour. They helped award $7,000 to the League of Conservation Voters for their “Clean Busses for healthy Niño’s” program that works to get electric school busses throughout Nevada.
UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Climate Action, Michael R. Bloomberg signs our call-to-action in Las Vegas
At the stop in Boulder, Mayor Suzanne Jones and Comedian Jo Firestone helped show why Boulder is known as a national leader in fighting for a clean energy economy. Community Cycles came in first place in the Boulder climate innovators contest, pledging to use their grand prize money to keep their city’s air clean by making biking more accessible for women, transgender individuals, and children from low-income families.
Mayor Suzanne Jones speaks about climate innovations happening in the city of Boulder, CO
St. Louis brought together Mayor Lyda Krewson and Anheuser Busch, a company which is committed to brewing their beer with 100% renewable energy by 2025. With too many tremendous applicants to choose from, the climate innovators grand prize was split between three groups in St. Louis – including, St. Louis Bicycle Works, Trailnet, and Metro St. Louis.
Future climate leaders sign the New American Road Trip call to action in St. Louis
In Pittsburgh, the New American Road Trip didn’t let the rain stop clean energy innovation from moving forward. Mayor William Peduto and comedian JC Coccoli got the conversation moving, bringing together clean energy union workers, climate experts from around the world, and of course, Steelers fans. CommutePitt won the climate innovators grand prize, and will use their winnings to expand their electric vehicle charging stations.
Mayor William Peduto discusses how Pittsburgh is growing it’s economy by transitioning to green energy
Upon arrival in New York City, the New American Road Trip took its message to the United Nations at the end of Climate Week, officially bringing the New American Road Trip to a close.
The New American Road Trip makes its final stop at the United Nations in NYC, bringing the trip full circle with UN Secretary-General’s Youth Special Envoy Jayathma Wickramanayake, who helped kick off the tour at the Global Climate Action Summit two weeks ago
This tour and our local innovator awards were made possible through a partnership with Bloomberg Philanthropies, The Hewlett Foundation, The JPB Foundation, The IKEA Foundation and ClimateWorks Foundation which all came together to help show the world Americans are ‘still in’ when it comes to stopping climate change.
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For Immediate Release: September 28, 2018
Contact: Jason Novak | 203.641.6681 | jnovak@skdknick.com