Bloomberg donates to help Columbus reduce emissions

The charitable organization founded by former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg will spend $200 million to help leaders in Columbus and 24 other cities tap into federal funding opportunities to cut their emissions, Axios' Andrew Freedman writes .

Why it matters: The funding from Bloomberg Philanthropies could allow these cities to grow their building and transportation networks in ways that limit greenhouse gas emissions.

State of play: The Bloomberg American Sustainable Cities initiative offers not just funding but a small team of project managers to help Columbus as it works toward a goal of carbon neutrality by 2050.

• Future projects could include construction of new affordable, zero-emission housing and investing in electric vehicles, per Mayor Andrew Ginther's office.

What they're saying: "It is impossible to deny the impacts of climate change in Columbus," Ginther said in a statement .

• "We are proud to have been selected for this important initiative, and we are eager to step up our efforts to further reduce emissions and enhance climate resilience — particularly among our most vulnerable neighbors."

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