This is a “fantastic moment” for the city’s climate and sustainability efforts, Tucson officials said, pointing to millions in federal funding invested in policies aimed at making Tucson greener, more resilient and better prepared for the future.

Those comments came days before a memo from the White House budget office Tuesday called for a pause on spending on federal assistance.

City Manager Tim Thomure reminded council members last week that it was only a few years ago that Tucson Mayor Regina Romero and the council was directing staff to develop the city’s Tucson Resilient Together Climate Action and Adaptation Plan.

Chief Resilience Officer Fatima Luna told council members that 76% of the city’s planned climate actions have progressed, with targets exceeded in nearly every category. She said these successes highlight the collective efforts across departments, as well as collaborations with internal, external partners and the community.

“We also distributed over 900 heat relief kits and strengthened coordination on heat preparedness and relief ahead of the 2024 heat season,” Luna said. 

The city secured nearly $94.4 million in climate-related grants, most awarded in 2024, and departments have invested over $121 million in climate-related projects, with much of the funding made possible by voter approved propositions such as Prop 411, 401, and 407.

Luna also discussed key multi-jurisdictional collaborations, including Tucson’s first Southern Arizona Heat Summit and the adoption of the city’s first heat action response map.

The second annual Southern Arizona Heat Summit is scheduled for Feb. 1, with attendance growing from 120 participants last year to nearly 200 this year.

The city’s tree planting and urban forestry initiatives, like Tucson Million Trees, has expanded the city's green canopy. Tucson recently completed its first-ever tree inventory and launched the Grow Tucson project, which plans community engagement events throughout the year. The initiative surpassed a significant milestone by planting and distributing over 120,000 trees.

Additionally, the city’s energy office has scaled up solar installations, increasing from eight projects in 2019 to 72 in 2023. Tucson remains on track to meet its goal of installing 30 megawatts of solar capacity at city facilities.

And to enhance transparency, Tucson launched a public-facing climate dashboard last month, providing real-time updates on the city’s energy use and consumption. 

“We are following New York City’s climate dashboard model, and it is very impressive,” Luna said. “We want to replicate that work.”

Mayor Romero applauded the city’s transformation in climate policy, saying that while the city had previously been doing some work, it didn’t have a strategic plan or a team to move it forward. She also pointed to the influx of federal and state funding into Tucson’s sustainability projects. 

“We’re keeping the pedal to the metal,” Romero said. “What really makes me extra happy is the amount of funds contributed by both the state and, mostly, the federal government into this work. These millions of dollars will continue paying dividends for our community for decades to come.”

She touched on the growing risks of wildfires, saying that while urban areas like Tucson are often seen as safe, they’re surrounded by desert that could present significant danger.

Romero referenced the Los Angeles fires and the risk of increasing wildfires, stressing the importance of preparing for these potential threats and the need for resilient hubs that could operate independently of power providers for extended periods. That’s especially true since power outages are often one of the first major impacts in such emergencies.

Energy Manager Michael Catanzaro introduced a new initiative aimed at .tracking carbon emissions. The city is currently in the contracting phase, but by the end of the year it will launch a real-time carbon dashboard that lets officialso monitor emissions and evaluate the impact of their actions.

Ward 3 Councilman, Kevin Dahl acknowledged the city’s progress but stressed the urgency of further action. 

“I’m really happy that we’re prioritizing heat resilience. The city is doing great work, but we need to do an incredible amount more because the globe is getting hotter faster than we’re dealing with it,” Dahl said.

Alison Miller, Tucson's community service administrator, reminded the council that these impacts are not felt equally, with communities of color and children facing the highest rates. Approximately one in four children in Tucson live below the poverty line, Miller said, stressing the importance of integrating key policies across all city initiatives. 

“The first is centering a two-generation approach, understanding that our policies and programs are stronger when we reach both children, the workforce, and older adults,” she said. “Second is addressing climate resilience and environmental justice, understanding that low-income communities are on the front lines of experiencing climate catastrophes.”

Despite confusion over federal funding, local officials expressed optimism about continuing their efforts.

 “This report is as good as the data we receive,” Luna said. “It paints a full picture of what the city is doing across departments in climate work, and we know there’s still more to improve.”

Angelina Maynes is a University of Arizona alum and reporter with Tucson Spotlight. Contact her at angelinamaynes@arizona.edu.

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