The City of Paris and main local governments networks worldwide ask for a “Cities and Local Governments Day” during the COP21

18.12.2014

Press release -Paris and its partners ask the COP21’s future French presidency to organize a Cities and Local Governments Day during the COP21 at Le Bourget in December 2015.

Press release – Paris and its partners ask the COP21’s future French presidency to organize a Cities and Local Governments Day during the COP21 at Le Bourget in December 2015.

At the request of Anne Hidalgo, Mayor of Paris, Patrick Klugman, deputy mayor in charge of international relations, and the networks UCLG, C40, CEMR / PLATFORMA, IAFM and ICLEI have a held a meeting on December 18 at Paris City Hall to define the roadmap for the COP21 in December 2015.

In order to reinforce the role of cities and local governments along with State actors in favor of climate change, the City of Paris and the main local government networks have decided to organize, in December 2015, during the COP21, a “Summit of Local Governments for Climate” and are asking the French Government to organize a Cities & Local governments Day.

By 2030, two-third of the world population will live in cities and these later will emit 75% of greenhouse gas emissions. To face these climate challenges, local governments will play a major role and their mobilization will be a key success factor for an ambitious climate agreement as well as concrete and visible results on the ground.

In that perspective, the City of Paris, alongside local government networks, will keep its high level of commitment to amplify the voice of cities and local governments during negotiations and promote local policies for climate change: meeting of European Mayor on March 26 2015, Conference on Energy in Bordeaux in January 2015, UN Summit for Climate in June 2015, Summit “Climate and territories” in Lyon in July 2015 and, Summit of Local Governments for Climate” in December 2015 in Paris.

Whereas the major role of cities and local governments in the mobilization for climate change has been recognized by the United Nations General Secretary through the Compact of Mayors adopted in New York in September 2014, further support and recognition for this initiative is welcome and required. For that reason, the city of Paris and the main local government networks call to the organization of a Cities Day in Paris during COP 21.

To read the full press release, click here.

For more information: Local and regional governments and climate change