MICHAEL BLOOMBERG

It’s all about numbers for the special U.N. climate envoy. And the numbers don’t lie—taking action on climate makes economic sense

- JUSTIN WORLAND

MICHAEL BLOOMBERG TENDS TO AVOID THE PRESS. THE NEW YORK City mayor turned climate advocate is not a regular guest on cable news. But having helped close more than 300 coal-fired power plants in the U.S., cut New York City’s emissions by nearly 20%, and contributed more than $1 billion to climate action, he has a story to tell.

In 1981, Bloomberg launched what would become a media empire by providing data that informs financial decision-making. During his three terms as New York City mayor, from 2002 to 2013, he applied that same data-driven approach to advance pragmatic solutions on a wide range of issues, from crime to public health—even if, at times, that approach put him out of step with politics.

Since leaving office, he has brought the same thinking—and that billion-plus dollars—to climate change, with unmatched results that have accelerated action in the U.S. and around the world—supporting everything from stopping air pollution in the Deep South to protecting ocean ecosystems.