In light of the latest IPCC assessment report, which states that limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees requires rapid, far-reaching and unprecedented changes in all aspects of society, ICLEI joined 18 cities from across Europe, who recently came together in European Green Capital 2018, Nijmegen (The Netherlands), to sign a joint call for action to enhance sustainability in all cities around the world.
The call for action, which was initiated by the members of the European Green Capital Network, consisting of winners and finalists of the European Green Capital Award, aims to inspire cities worldwide to become more sustainable and climate-resilient by creating a green movement. It will be presented at the global climate conference #COP24 in Katowice (Poland) from 3 - 14 December 2018.
Through the call for action the supporting cities aim to promote partnerships at all levels – local, regional, national and international – in a joint effort to tackle sustainability issues, including economic, social and ecological challenges. Through sharing lessons learned and practical experiences, the supporting cities are eager to increase their impact and legacy by inspiring the green movement in cities worldwide.
The call for action will also help supporting cities achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, the Paris Climate Agreement, related targets by the Covenant of Mayors and local government-led initiatives such as the Basque Declaration.
The following 14 ICLEI Members were among the 18 cities who endorsed the call for action: Barcelona, Vitoria Gasteiz (Spain), Bristol (United Kingdom), Freiburg, Hamburg (Germany), Ghent (Belgium), Lahti (Finland), Lisbon (Portugal), Ljubljana (Slovenia), Malmö, Umeå (Sweden), Nantes (France), Nijmegen (The Netherlands) and Oslo (Norway).
Endorsing the call for action on behalf of ICLEI Europe, Deputy Regional Director, Ruud Schuthof, said: “It is important that cities step up and be brave in their journey towards sustainability. This is an urgent call to all in political power to stop prioritizing immediate wants and needs over chances and opportunities for future generations. We should all take the limitations of our earth as our top priority, as they reflect the limitations of human life.”
For more information and to read the Call for Action in full, click here.