L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti announced at the Clinton Global Initiative conference on Monday the creation of the Mayor's National Climate Action Agenda. (Neon Tommy/Flickr)

In light of big promises by the mayor to push new climate change initiatives, Los Angeles environmentalists are optimistic. And these improvements, they say, are long overdue.

Earlier this week, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, Houston Mayor Annise Parker and Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter announced a new climate action initiative that will work to curb the emission of greenhouse gases in their respective cities.

Environmental coalition group, So Cal Climate Action 350, told Neon Tommy that the announcement isn’t just empty words, but a valued step forward in the battle against climate change.

“I think we’re very lucky to have a mayor like Garcetti who understands the breadth of the problem considering what an unsustainable mess Los Angeles often is,” said Jack Eidt, environmental advocate and organizer for the group.

The L.A. mayor's office detailed that the changes will include a call for federal and global emission reduction agreements, the creation of a "community climate action plan" to meet said emission reduction goals, and establish an annual or bi-annual report which details a municipal and community-wide greenhouse gas inventory.

"Our cities are on the front lines of the impacts of climate change, with 70 percent of emissions in the US from cities—mayors must confront this challenge not only at the local level, but also by calling for binding emission reductions at the federal and global level," said Mayor Garcetti in a press release. 

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Garcetti’s plan rests on three main tenets: set or renew aggressive targets for greenhouse gas reductions, develop standards at pollution sources and draft or update climate action plans.

Eidt explained the most pressing issue rests on the first tenet, revolving around the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. Just last Sunday, scientists revealed that the world’s emissions had risen 2.3 percent to the highest level ever, largely because of China, India and the U.S.

On a metropolitan scale, Eidt highlighted Garcetti’s efforts to increase methods of alternative transportation but noted the announced changes could face an uphill battle.

“It’s not going to be easy given the addiction that this society has to fossil fuels," Eidt said. "Not every entity is going to see it as an easy transition because it’s not, particularly when the oil industry has a grasp on the political system.”

The initiative, dubbed the Mayors National Climate Action Agenda, will also work to recruit other cities over the next year in hopes that they will follow the example to reduce greenhouse emissions. Garcetti has emphasized the importance of changes beyond each of the respective cities, saying he and other mayors should confront climate change "not only at the local level, but also by calling for binding emission reductions at the federal and global level.”

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Nevertheless, Garcetti, Parker and Nutter are pushing a strategy that aims to sidestep federal red tape. Their willingness to take action on a local level rather than through Washington is indicative of advice that Obama gave Garcetti last year. 

"'Don't wait for Washington to take action if you're a mayor or a governor,'" Garcetti recalled Obama telling him in a interview with KPCC.  

Eidt stressed that L.A. is the perfect starting place for that action and said the initiative is a step in the right direction.

“We need stronger regulations in place and firmer targets to deal with the climate crisis, and I’m confident the city of Los Angeles is on that way.”

Reach Staff Reporter Matt Lemas here.