Cities such as Quito have already proven to be central to the fight against climate change, as local governments across the world are increasingly mandating the construction of zero-emission and resilient infrastructures, from buildings to transport and public spaces, that facilitate environmental and health sustainability co-benefits. However, they are often limited by a lack of access to the required resources.
To bend the curve of emission by 2020, we – individuals, companies, investors, and local and regional governments – can and must all raise our ambition in tandem with our nation states, who will come back to the table to strengthen their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement before 2020.
By Leila Mead STORY HIGHLIGHTS Through its new office in Brussels, Belgium, the Covenant will facilitate enhanced efforts to realize the goals of the Paris Agreement on climate change, and to build a low-carbon future. The City Research and Innovation agenda will address knowledge, data and innovation gaps to help cities undertake accelerated and more … read more
Bloomberg and Šefčovič announce plans to develop a City Research & Innovation Agenda By Kostis Geropoulos The Global Covenant of Mayors’ Co-Chairs, the UN Secretary General’s Special Envoy for Climate Action Michael Bloomberg, and European CommissionVice-President Maroš Šefčovič on March 22 announced plans to develop a City Research & Innovation Agenda to address critical knowledge, data and innovation gaps that will … read more
By Jack Aldane Plans to mobilise around US$6 billion of private capital for sustainable cities were unveiled this week by the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy at a high-level conference of the European Union. The two initiatives—Invest4Cities and a Call for Interest—are aimed at getting public and private institutions to invest in cities around the world, where the current … read more
King Philippe of the Belgians, the European Commission Vice President Maroš Šefčovič, the UN Special Envoy for Climate Action Michael R. Bloomberg and other international guests gather to celebrate the establishment of Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy’s global Secretariat in Brussels, supporting cities around the globe in the fight against climate change.