• Philadelphia is one of 95 global cities to receive the top score on climate action from environmental impact non-profit, CDP 

  • A List cities build climate momentum, taking twice as many climate mitigation and adaptation measures as non-A Listers  

  • Only 9.8% of cities that were scored in 2021 received an A score 

Philadelphia has been recognized by CDP as one of 95 cities across the globe that is taking bold leadership on environmental action and transparency, receiving an A score, despite the continued pressures of tackling the coronavirus pandemic on local and national economies and societies. 

To score an A, a city must disclose publicly and have a city-wide emissions inventory, have set an emissions reduction target and a renewable energy target for the future, and have published a climate action plan. It must also complete a climate risk and vulnerability assessment and have a climate adaptation plan to demonstrate how it will tackle climate hazards. In 2021, CDP raised the bar for entry to the A List to reflect the level of ambition needed to achieve 1.5°C targets; only 9.8% of cities scored in 2021 received an A score. 

As a 2021 CDP A-List city, Philadelphia is recognized for demonstrating urgent and impactful climate action – from ambitious emissions reduction targets to building resilience against climate change. 

Key recent achievements include: 

  • The Building Energy Benchmarking Policy and the Building Energy Performance Policy that require large commercial and multi-family buildings to report on and improve (for commercial buildings only) their energy performance. 
  • A unanimous City Council vote in December of 2021 to update the LEED ordinance requiring that municipal construction and renovation projects that begin the design process after July 1, 2023 (fiscal year 2024) meet the requirements of LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold certification, improving on the previous requirement that projects can achieve LEED Silver certification. 
  • The creation of an Environmental Justice Commission to provide recommendations to the Mayor, City Council and Office of Sustainability to study, report on and address environmental justice issues in Philadelphia. In November 2021, the City opened the application process to join the commission. 

As we look ahead to this next decade, we remain fully committed to achieving our climate targets equitably and justly. An updated citywide greenhouse gas inventory will be released early in 2022 which will provide further information on where we are making progress and help inform where we need to focus our efforts for further impact.  

About CDP 
CDP is a global non-profit that runs the world’s environmental disclosure system for companies, cities, states and regions. Founded in 2000 and working with more than 590 investors with over $110 trillion in assets, CDP pioneered using capital markets and corporate procurement to motivate companies to disclose their environmental impacts, and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, safeguard water resources and protect forests. 

 

Learn more about CDP and check out the 2021 A List of cities.