Zaragoza hosts climate action leaders

A strategic message has been sent to the world by cities, towns, counties and regions in view of the international post-2012 climate negotiations during the ICLEI European Membership Convention, held in Zaragoza from 23 to 25 June 2008.

The message is that local governments recognize the need for, and are committed to, action against climate change. They can and will help their national governments reach their greenhouse emissions reduction targets. But to do so effectively they need to be empowered and supported.

Juan Alberto Belloch, Mayor of Zaragoza and host city of the Convention, encouraged the delegates from 25 countries to help shape this important path for Europe and for the rest of the world.

"A majority of people live in cities, which have become huge consumption centres. Using raw materials, resources and energy, all contribute to a negative ecological print, and, above all, make cities very vulnerable to the effects of climate change. Zaragoza advocates sustainability. As the city also hosting the EXPO 2008 - the International Exhibition on 'Water and Sustainable Development" - Mayor Belloch highlighted water as a critical element in the climate debate – both from a mitigation and adaptation perspective.

The urgency of climate change mitigation requires the response of all levels of governments and society. To this end, in Bali in 2007 local governments jointly embarked on a global process to accompany the national roadmap of the Conference of the Parties (COP) 14, to be discussed in Poznan in December 2008, and decided on at the COP 15 in Copenhagen next year.

Cities and towns have now been discussing their role and their need for an optimal impact on climate change mitigation and adaptation activities – to protect their citizens, use their resources effectively and sustainably, and with a vision to contribute to global justice and equity.

They have, in Zaragoza, been discussing the need for improved national-local frameworks and partnerships, to build on pilot actions and progress across Europe.

Now is the time to mainstream local climate action in cities and towns. ICLEI has also used the opportunity to encourage mayors to sign the European Covenant of Mayors - a regional development encouraging the more than 100.000 local governments in Europe to engage in climate protection.

The ICLEI Membership Convention clearly highlighted the strong commitment of European local governments to tackle, in concert with national and regional governments, the challenge of climate protection.

Through the exchange of best practices, interaction with environmental experts and the joint definition of strategies for environmental protection and the amelioration of climate change in the urban context, attending representatives of local governments showed their intent to make that commitment very real indeed.