WASHINGTON (Dec. 9, 2025) — Local action to address the global threat of climate change can lead to many improvements for the local population, according to a new report by researchers at the George Washington University. To address barriers to implementing climate strategies at the local level, researchers identified actions that provide a net positive return on investment and offer other benefits such as job creation and cleaner air.
The report’s release comes a few weeks after the end of COP30, a global climate summit held this year in Brazil that highlighted the need for local action to offset failures by national governments to make progress on the issue.
“When communities act on climate, the benefits aren’t distant or abstract—they show up right away in people’s daily lives,” said Susan Anenberg, lead researcher and professor and chair of the Environmental and Occupational Health Department at the George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health. “From new jobs to cleaner air and safer streets, local climate actions pay off immediately and improve quality of life while also reducing emissions. Our hope is that our report helps local governments and communities see climate action not as a burden, but as an opportunity to invest in the well-being of the local population.”
Anenberg and her team conducted an analysis that addresses the challenge of getting local governments and other actors to take steps to reduce greenhouse gases. They produced a report, FLIP the Script: The Free, Local, Immediate and Persuasive Co-Benefits of Climate Action.
The report, which was released today at a webinar, identifies the FLIP benefits when local communities take action:
- Free: Climate action provides a net positive return on investment when all societal costs are accounted for such as reduced energy costs, economic opportunities and better public health.
- Local: Such action also offers benefits that community members can appreciate such as cleaner air.
- Immediate: Benefits such as the creation of new jobs or reduced commuting time are often realized right after action is taken.
- Persuasive: Climate actions can be tailored to align with core local priorities.
The team applied the FLIP framework to 22 global case studies across six sectors. The case studies show how climate actions can deliver immediate, local benefits that deliver many benefits for the investment.
The report and the case studies offer accessible insights on how the framework can be used by policymakers and advocates, journalists and researchers. For example, policymakers and advocates can use the case studies to put in place climate actions that result in multiple benefits–health, economic growth, job creation and more.
Journalists can use the framework to show how climate action can benefit people and individual communities.
Researchers can apply the framework to make sure their work highlights local, immediate impacts.
The report was unveiled at a virtual webinar on Dec. 9th co-hosted by the GW Climate and Health Institute, C40 Cities, the Clean Air Fund and the GW Alliance for a Sustainable Future.
FLIP the Script: The Free, Local, Immediate and Persuasive Co-Benefits of Climate Action was authored by Anenberg and a team of researchers at the GW Climate and Health Institute, which is led by the Milken Institute School of Public Health.
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