This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Mayor Jackie Biskupski on Tuesday joined 32 mayors across the United States asking President-elect Donald Trump to work with cities, rather than obstruct their efforts to mitigate climate change.

"We write today to ask for your partnership in our work to clean our air, strengthen our economy, and ensure that our children inherit a nation healthier and better prepared for the future than it is today," the mayors' joint letter states.

Mayors representing over 35 million citizens in both red and blue states signed the letter, according to a statement from Biskupski's office. It underscores the grave risks to our nation's economy, public health, and environment by failing to reduce emissions.

"We're calling for the president-elect to join with us to ensure a livable future for our children," Biskupski said.

Trump previously has called climate change a hoax, but in an interview Tuesday with The New York Times he insisted he has an open mind on the issue and intends to study it. Asked if he believes human activity has caused climate change, he said, "It's a very complex subject. I'm not sure anybody is ever going to really know." He noted that one big concern of his is the cost to companies in efforts to address the issue.

This summer, Salt Lake City had 21 consecutive days over 95 degrees, the warmest nighttime low ever recorded at 81 degrees, and the warmest June since 1874. This summer, the capital city also broke three high maximum records, 14 high minimums, and 17 total heat records, according to the mayor's statement.

More recently, Salt Lake City broke the record for a late freeze date — Nov. 17.

Local bodies of water also have suffered,. In mid-July, a toxic algal bloom on Utah Lake — caused, in part, by high water temperatures and low water levels — closed the lake, sickened more than 100 people, and put dozens of farmers in Utah and Salt Lake counties in a bind during one of the hottest weeks of the year.

Emergencies like this are not just inconvenient, they cost cities, private citizens, state agencies, and businesses money, according to Biskupski's statement.

The mayors' joint letter said municipalities are prepared to move forward without federal support, if need be. "[But] we know that if we stand united on this issue, we can make change that will resonate for generations. We have no choice and no room to doubt our resolve," their letter said. "The time for bold leadership and action is now."

The letter to Trump was signed by member cities of the Mayors Climate Action Agenda (MNCAA), or the #ClimateMayors, and can be viewed here: http://www.climate-mayors.org/our-letter-to-the-presidentelect-november-2016/