During Donald Trump's presidency from 2017 to 2021, cities played a critical role in advancing the climate change agenda, often stepping in to fill the leadership vacuum left by national rollbacks on environmental policies. Urban centers like New York City and Bristol, England, as well as many others, spearheaded ambitious initiatives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, invest in renewable energy, and promote climate resilience. Many cities reaffirmed their commitment to the Paris Agreement through coalitions like the We Are Still In campaign and the Climate Mayors network. Globally, cities integrated climate action into urban planning, demonstrating that local governance could drive meaningful progress on climate despite national inertia or global gridlock.
Fast forward to 2025, and Trump holds the US presidency once again. He has withdrawn from the Paris Agreement and promises to increase domestic fossil fuel production and reverse many renewable energy provisions and related tax incentives. How will cities respond this time around? Can they fill a leadership vacuum on climate and spur global action? What might help or hinder them? Join us at Perry World House for this expert discussion.
Lolita K. Jackson
Executive Director of Sustainable Cities
Sustainable Capital LLP
Lolita K. Jackson MBE is the executive director of sustainable cities at Sustainable Development Capital LLP, a multibillion-pound FTSE 250 climate investment firm. Jackson is a frequent speaker at global gatherings and universities on the topics of climate diplomacy and public and private sector engagement on climate. She previously worked for the NYC Mayor’s Office for fifteen years in a variety of roles, lastly as the Special Advisor for Climate Policy & Programs, where she was the climate diplomat for NYC. Jackson is a member of the British-American Project’s US advisory board, a member of GlobalScot; a trustee of the Jazz Museum in Harlem; a board member of the St Andrew’s Society of New York; and president of the Penn Alumni Class of 1989. She was named to the City & State's “Energy & Environment Power 100” list for 2022 and was named a Member of the Order of the British Empire in 2021. Jackson is a professional singer, having performed on four continents and at Carnegie Hall. She is an alumna of the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Engineering and Applied Science, majoring in applied science with a concentration in chemical engineering.
Lord Marvin Rees
Former Mayor
Bristol, United Kingdom
Marvin Rees was the first person of Black African heritage elected as mayor of any major European city, serving as Mayor of Bristol from 2016 to 2024. His tenure was marked by a blend of political and social leadership, earning him numerous awards and an international reputation for his impactful governance. Marvin has been a strong proponent of the potential of urbanization to address global challenges. He delivered a TED Talk in 2022 on the critical role cities play in combating climate change. He has been widely recognised as an effective leader. He chaired the Local Government Association's City Regions Board and Core Cities UK. He is a Yale World Fellow and holds an Honorary Doctorate from Swansea University and an Honorary Professorship with the University of Bristol. In 2021 he was a recipient of the Penn IUR International Urban Leadership Award, for leaders guiding cities to sustainable, vibrant futures. He is a founder member of the Mayors Migration Council, the 3Ci and sits of the World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council on the Future of Cities. Before entering politics, Rees worked with Tearfund, the BBC, and the National Health Service, where he focused on reducing health disparities. His is graduate of Operation Black Vote played a pivotal role in his journey, equipping him to navigate and challenge systemic barriers and he is a Yale World Fellow. In Jan 2024 he was named an OBE in eth New Years Honours List for services to local government. His leadership is rooted in his personal journey. Growing up as a mixed-race son of a single white mother in 1970s Britain, he faced racism and stigma. This shaped his commitment to social justice, racial equality, and poverty alleviation. His lived experiences drive his advocacy for inclusive policies and social mobility, ensuring that opportunities are accessible to all.
Kale Roberts
Deputy Director
International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives
Since joining ICLEI USA in 2016, Kale Roberts has provided technical assistance to hundreds of cities and counties on climate action planning, SDG-alignment, biodiversity, and sustainability planning. In his role as Deputy Director, Kale ensures the ICLEI USA team is supported to deliver on our mission and that organizational operations are serving our vision for a sustainable, resilient future where everyone in our communities can thrive. As advocacy lead, Kale conects U.S. local governments to the United Nations’ Local Governments and Municipal Authorities (LGMA) major group and works to enhance city-state-national collaboration on climate and sustainability.
Parrish Bergquist (moderator)
Assistant Professor of Political Science
University of Pennsylvania
Parrish Bergquist is an Assistant Professor at the University of Pennsylvania's Political Science Department. She studies the political determinants of environmental policy—in the US and abroad—with a particular focus on public will and political behavior. The three major strands of her research focus on explaining the development of attitudes and policy views about climate change and the environment, examining how public environmental concern is activated in the political system, and explaining the drivers and consequences of state-level climate policies in the polarized US political context. Throughout her work, she focuses on environmental politics to develop and test theories on polarization, public opinion, persuasion, and mobilization. In turn, she applies these lines of theory to one of the most important contemporary policy challenges. Her research has been published in scholarly outlets including the Journal of Politics, British Journal of Political Science, Nature Climate Change, Nature Energy, and Environmental Research Letters.