Thursday, March 26, 2015

Le Nouvel Observateur- Climate Mini Summit in Paris

News > TopNews > Climate: in Paris, a mini-summit before the time of European cities

Climate: in Paris, a mini-summit before the time of European cities

Posted on 26-03-2015 at 13:46Updated at 23:55

Mayors and representatives of thirty European cities and the Mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, have pledged to reduce by 40% the gas emissions by 2030 greenhouse, March 26, 2015 in Paris ( c) AFP

Paris (AFP) - Paris Thursday launched with 29 other French and European cities a joint initiative on climate, with the aim of promoting the "central" role of cities in the fight against global warming, a few months of holding COP 21 conference.

Mayors and representatives of these cities have adopted earlier this afternoon at City Hall a statement in which they undertake to "reduce by at least 40% (their) greenhouse gases by 2030, "a goal in line with that of the European Union.

Rome mayor Ignazio Marino, co-chair of the meeting, and those of Athens, Brussels, Bucharest, Geneva, Lisbon , Madrid , Sofia, Stockholm , Warsaw, Vienna , Lyon and Bordeaux were notably present at City Hall, as well as Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius and European Energy Commissioner Miguel Arias Canete.

To implement this commitment, the cities will endeavor to coordinate public investment, buying in groups or investing together in public goods and green services, according to the text of the statement.

President Francois Hollande, who arrived in the late morning, welcomed the initiative of the Mayor of Paris Anne Hidalgo ( PS ) and its counterparts."You, you're here in Paris as if you had made the conference early, and I thank you," he said.

"The role that is yours, European cities (...) is to show that it is possible to live, and live well in big cities, and an urban model that meets the requirements of the fight against global warming, "he said.

Hollande called on cities to make their "contribution" in view of COP 21, "doing the evaluation of all the good practices" by cooperating with developing cities, and giving a more ecological orientation their investments.

- 2/3 of humanity in the city in 2050 -

Overall, European cities account for 10 billion euros of public commissions per year, said Mr. Holland , pledging to translate "promptly" in French law the Directive of 26 February 2014 which encourages the creation of Public control groups between European municipalities.

The mayor of Paris called during a press briefing all member states of the EUto implement the directive, although cities may wish in her already work together. "Yes, already can and already do these commands in several capitals. We started working more closely with Rome and Brussels from our renewal needs of a number of vehicles. "

These grouped public orders may initially involve electric trucks, the purchase of electric and hybrid city vehicles, buying green electricity, told the AFP the entourage of the mayor of Paris.

In his opening remarks, the aedile highlighted the central role cities have to play against climate change.

"To be convinced that the climate challenge is a local challenge, it suffices to note that by 2050, cities will host the 2/3 of humanity and emit 70% of carbon dioxide emissions," he will -she said.

"Together we can leverage to encourage manufacturers to develop clean industries, like what we did here in Paris Autolib ', she said. This is also on board the electric cars of the Bolloré group as guests of the town hall had arrived at City Hall on Thursday morning.

More than 6,000 European cities have undertaken through the Covenant of Mayors to reduce at least 20% in greenhouse gas emissions by 2020. Mr. Canete recalled that a more ambitious agreement would be put on rails on 13 October in Brussels .

At COP 21 (November 30-December 11), 1,000 mayors will be met at Parisfrom 4 to 7 December. One day will be devoted to the presentation of "solutions" implemented by communities and businesses, said Mr Fabius.