Mayors in ‘save planet’ pledge

MAYORS from cities around the world feel emboldened after 19 of the 20 world leaders attending the G20 summit recommitted themselves to the climate change goals as espoused in the Paris Climate Change Agreement.

The mayors of 91 cities, including Cape Town mayor, Patricia de Lille, earlier signed a “Save our Planet” pledge. It called on world leaders to recommit to the Paris Climate Change Agreement at the G20 summit in Hamburg, Germany.

In a joint statement, the 19 leaders said: “We remain collectively committed to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions through, among others, increased innovation on sustainable and clean energies and energy efficiency, and work towards low greenhouse-gas emission energy systems.”

The Mayor of Paris and Chairperson of the C40, Anne Hidalgo, stated: “On behalf of the C40, a network of 91 global cities committed to action on climate change, we are grateful that 19 out of the G20 leaders have listened to our calls and recognise that the Paris Agreement is ‘irreversible’. The statements made by Chancellor Merkel, President Macron, Prime Minister May, President Xi and many others in Hamburg, show that the majority of the world’s richest nations recognise the urgency of the climate change crisis and are ready to act,” Hidalgo said.

In the days leading up to the G20 summit, 52 mayors from cities around the world, representing 275 million citizens, released a statement that asked the G20 leaders, “Are you ready to save our planet?”

The aim of the pledge was to “deliver on the goals of the Paris Agreement” including “urgent reforms” in energy, transport, food and waste, and driving investment in low-carbon economies that will create jobs and improve public health.

The C40 network’s call for action on climate change was supported by a petition signed by more than 50 000 people from around the world. De Lille has been an active member in the C40 network in meeting renewable energy targets in the city.

Stating her reason to sign the pledge, De Lille said: “Climate change is a reality that we are seeing unfold in Cape Town with the drought crisis due to decreased annual rainfall over the past three winter seasons.

“We cannot afford to be in denial about climate change.”

Mark Watts of the C40 network said, “By 2020, all C40 cities will have plans in place to ensure they will deliver their part in achieving the ambitious goals of the Paris Agreement.”

This comes in the wake of the announcement of Governor of California, Jerry Brown, of the Global Climate Action Summit that is set to take place in September 2018.

DE LILLE HAS BEEN AN ACTIVE MEMBER IN THE C40 NETWORK IN MEETING RENEWABLE ENERGY TARGETS IN THE CITY OF CAPE TOWN