The Climate Summit for Local and Regional Leaders that took place today is a clear indication of the role that cities and regions can and should play in the fight against climate change.
During the summit, the European Commission announced the start of work on the setting up of the Regional Covenant for North America, covering the US, Canada and Mexico. It will support the implementation of the EU's International Urban Cooperation Programme, promoting city-to-city cooperation on sustainable urban development for smart, green and inclusive growth; and sub-national action under the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy initiative. The work in North America will capitalize on the new collaboration with the Compact of Mayors, which already has commitments from more than 150 cities in the region, through the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy. The North America office will add to the already existing regional Covenants in Europe, Mediterranean, and Sub-Saharan Africa. The European Commission is working towards opening up Regional Covenants for Latin America and the Caribbean, East and South-East Asia as well as Covenants for India and Japan in the coming months, broadening the scope of the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy. The Regional Covenants cooperate closely with our partners from global and regional city networks.
Miguel Arias Cañete, Commissioner for Climate Action & Energy, European Commission: "Mayors and local authorities are crucial partners in our collective fight against climate change. We need their creativity and commitment in putting the world on track to reach our climate and energy goals. The growth of the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy through the launch of Regional Covenants for North America, Latin America and the Caribbean, East and South-East Asia, India and Japan arrives at the right time while we work towards turning the Paris Agreement into action. Under the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy, mayors and cities now have an even stronger voice internationally."
About the Global Covenant of Mayors: the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy, supported by the European Commission, and co-chaired by Vice President Sefcovic and UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Cities and Climate Change, Michael Bloomberg, and with leadership from global city mayors, featured prominently in the day a transformative initiative that can have a multiplicative effect and contribute to higher ambition of cities and local actors – while taking into account local circumstances, priorities and expertise through Regional Covenant of Mayors. The Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy is the largest and first-of-its-kind coalition of cities committed to fighting climate change, bringing together the EU Covenant of Mayors and the Compact of Mayors.
Details
- Publication date
- 14 November 2016
- Author
- Directorate-General for Climate Action