Local governments want to be a part of the solution of climate problems. This is the message in the call that 700 representatives from municipalities and regions from more than 60 countries decided at this week's Local Government Climate Change Leadership Summit in Copenhagen.
The Summit was organized by Local Government Denmark in co-operation with a number of partners, including LGAction, a European climate project with finance from the EU programme "Intelligent Energy Europe" and co-ordinated by ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability.
– With the call, we send a joint and strong message to our heads of state and governments, saying that we expect to be included and get recognition of our role when the national climate strategies and plans are to be implemented throughout the world. It is the citizens and the local authorities that are affected by the consequences of climate change. Therefore, we want to be a part of the solution, says Henning Jensen, Chairman of Local Governments Denmark's International Committee and Mayor in the Danish town Næstved.
The call – which is supported by a number of local government organisations such as United Cities and Local Governments og ICLEI is the input of municipalities and regions to the negotiations in prior to the UN Climate Summit in Copenhagen in December, COP15. The local authorities in countries throughout the world will now hand over the call to their national governments.
– Municipalities and regions commit themselves to a local responsibility for the challenges with climate changes that we face. We are doing this, because we deal with a variety of related activities, among other things energy-saving in buildings, investments in public transport and the establishment of the most environmentally friendly waste-management, explains Henning Jensen.
But a clear message is not enough – climate activities cost. If we are to succeed in handling the world's climate challenges, it is crucial that the local authorities get more resources and better conditions.
– In other words, we recommend that the municipalities get access to the CO2 funds, adaptation funds and technology funds which are to be established after the COP15 Summit. Direct access to these funds will facilitate that the municipalities get the best conditions for stronger actions on climate issues, says Henning Jensen.
Furthermore, the 700 representatives at the Summit have a clear recommendation that the world's low-income countries that are most vulnerable with a view to climate disasters should get a major share of the budget.
– In concrete terms, we suggest to strengthen the present financial support to the low-income countries with minimum 1 billion US Dollars. The aid is to be targeted at adaptation measures which means that the countries can get better infrastructure, be more capable of handling floods and other natural disasters that may hit the countries, concludes Henning Jensen.
City entrance, Northern Europe. The use of private cars in city centres
is generally uneconomical and a waste of time. Photo: European Commission