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US cities join forces ahead of key UN Climate Change Meeting in Paris

27 August 2015

by Tom Teodorczuk

Twelve US cities have allied to join the landmark United Nations climate change conference in Paris in December.

The Local Climate Leaders Circle, a coalition of mayors and local officials seeking to champion climate action at national and international levels, have formed a delegation to the UN Conference of Parties in Paris (COP21) in December. They are calling for a new international agreement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and for widespread reform of policies and regulations in energy and transport.

The Local Climate Leaders Circle includes the mayors of Atlanta, Boulder, Chula Vista, Columbus, Des Moines, Grand Rapids, Oakland, Pittsburgh, Salt Lake City, West Palm Beach and council members from Santa Monica and King County, Washington. The mayors are urging the public and elected officials and members of the public to sign a call to action agreement to address America’s climate, economic and energy challenges.

The initiative provides further evidence of the gathering momentum towards achieving meaningful environmental reform at the UN’s COP21 meeting in Paris. One hundred ninety countries will negotiate a prospective new agreement on climate change at the summit but EU Climate Commissioner Miguel Arias Cañete last week warned swifter pre-conference negotiations are necessary for long-term global climate change to occur.

The US cities are acting in partnership with the National League of Cities, the World Wildlife Fund, ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability and U.S. Green Building Council in association with the Compact of Mayors and C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group.

Ralph Becker, President of the National League of Cities and Mayor of Salt Lake City, Utah, which is among the members of the Local Climate Leaders Circle, told Cities Today: “In Salt Lake City, we are committed to doing what we can right now to address the climate change impacts that are already being felt at a local level and will only become more challenging. Setting goals to mitigate and adapt to changes in our climate is essential to ensure a vibrant and sustainable future for our City.

“Climate Change can have a tremendous impact on cities in a negative way. Like many other cities across the nation, Salt Lake City is actively working to reduce greenhouse gas emissions responsible for contributing to climate change.”

Mary Casillas Salas, Mayor of Chula Vista, California, told Cities Today: “I am proud to join other mayors in advocating for strong action at the national and international level to help other cities address climate change. With 260,000 residents, Chula Vista exemplifies how actions at the local level can address a critical global problem–Chula Vista has implemented policies since the 1990s to address sustainability and the city signed the US Conference of Mayors Climate Protection Agreement in 2006.”

The Local Climate Leaders Circle members have committed to the Compact of Mayors, a global coalition of mayors aiming to reduce carbon emissions, further engage citizens on climate action and collaborate more closely with US government and international environmental officials.

The US city-wide movement has governmental seal of approval with President Obama earlier this week announcing new initiatives to increase energy efficiency measures in American cities and calling on U.S mayors to commit to climate action plans before the COP21 climate negotiations in Paris. Thirty-four US cities belong to the Compact of Mayors–launched at the 2014 United Nations Climate Summit–with 15 new US cities joining this week including New York, San Francisco, Chicago and Seattle. Addressing the National Clean Energy Summit in Las Vegas, President Obama set a target of 100 cities to sign onto the Compact of Mayors.

Michael Bloomberg, United Nations Special Envoy for Cities and Climate Change and former mayor of New York City, said of the Local Climate Leaders Circle alliance: “These 12 cities deserve great credit for acting quickly to confront climate change. By drawing attention to the work cities around the world are doing–and helping them speed their progress–the Leaders Circle can help set the stage for a successful climate change summit in Paris later this year.”

Ahead of the meeting in Paris, climate pledges have been received from 56 countries, representing 61 percent of global emissions. “These leading mayors will share examples of how local solutions are playing a critical role to address the truly global challenges related to climate change,” said Clarence Anthony, National League of Cities CEO. “Our goal is for the Local Climate Leaders Circle partners to share the experiences and best practices learned in Paris with city leaders across the nation to inspire their peers to reach higher to mitigate climate change.”

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