A strong lead effectively captures the reader's attention while providing essential information. Here’s an example based on your criteria:
"City Mayor Jane Smith announced new initiatives to combat climate change, promising to reduce carbon emissions by 30% over the next five years. The plan includes increasing renewable energy sources and promoting public transportation. Community engagement will be key to its success."
This example utilizes an active verb, is concise, follows the who-what structure, and is within the word limit.