From 6 to 17 November 2017 the 23rd Conference of the Parties (COP23) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is taking place in Bonn, hosted by the German Government under the presidency of the Fiji islands. UCLG has been involved in climate negotiations over the last decade and worked to raise awareness of the impact and consequences of climate change on cities and their communities.
Through city driven initiatives such as the Global Covenant of Mayors, UCLG continues to drive forward climate action at the local level and supports local leaders on their way towards a low carbon and more resilient future.
On Sunday 12 November 2017, in the framework of the COP23, the Global Covenant of Mayors released a report on aggregate data showcasing the potential of cities’ commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHG).
“As a board member of the Global Covenant of Mayors, I applaud the standard which was developed with expertise from the GCoM partners in a highly collaborative effort. While there will be regional differences in what cities report, it is critical to have a consistent framework for what is reported overall. This global standard will help track the incredible work and commitment of cities in a transparent and consistent fashion. Mauricio Rodas, Board Member of the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy, Mayor of Quito and Co-President of UCLG.
[Read the press release: COP 23: GCoM Reports the Collective Impact of Committed Cities and Announces a New GHG Emissions Inventory Standard for Cities and Local Governments]
13 November 2017 at the COP23 was dedicated to the Global Covenant of Mayors. The day-long event brought together local and regional leaders from across the world and representatives of governments and civil society. The event revolved around four topics: transatlantic dialogue on climate change; partnerships between cities, regions and national governments for accelerating climate action; facilitating access to finance for climate change mitigation and resilience in cities; and political leadership for integrated planning.
The event recalled the importance of building partnerships across all level of government and the role of local and regional governments in achieving the Paris Agreement in coherence with the other major global agendas.
“Local and regional leaders have long advocated for ensuring the coherence of all global agendas, and for treating climate action as a transversal issue. We have always said that the development agendas don’t make sense unless they are linked to the climate agenda.” Roland Ries, Mayor of Strasbourg, President of Cités Unies France and Co-President of UCLG
About the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy
The Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy formally brings together the Compact of Mayors and the EU Covenant of Mayors. UCLG is a founding member of the Compact of Mayors and is heavily involved in the Global Covenant of Mayors through its European Section, CEMR. The Global Covenant of Mayors and the Compact of Mayors are t he world’s two primary initiatives assisting cities and local governments in their transition to a low-carbon and climate resilient economy, and helping demonstrate their global impact. Led by the UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Cities and Climate Change, Michael R. Bloomberg, and European Commission Vice President, Maroš Šefčovič, the Global Covenant has more than 7,400 city signatories across 6 continents and 119 countries, representing over 680 million people, or nearly 10% of the global population.
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