COP 14: Local Government Climate Sessions, Poznan, Poland, 9-11 December 2008
The Local Government Climate Sessions (LGCS) took place at the 2008 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Poznan, Poland. The Sessions were organised in conjunction with the associated partners of the Local Government Climate Roadmap. With over 430 participants, the local government delegation was one of the biggest delegations at COP14.
The main message of the LGCS was that cities and local governments around the globe have a long track record of voluntary local climate actions. Thus, nations should recognise and build upon these local contributions by building strategic climate partnerships with their local governments. Such national-local climate partnerships should include empowerment, capacities, resources and easier access to funding, as well as enabling regulations and framework conditions for the local level.
"(...) and the large part of the fight against climate change, will be won through actions by citizens, businesses and local governments, in the towns and cities that you represent."
Yvo de Boer, Executive Secretary of the UNFCCC, addressing LG representatives at the LGCS, 10 December 2008
As part of the main objective of the Local Government Climate Sessions in Poznan, the draft text of the COP Decision on “Cities, Local Authorities and Climate Change” was presented, discussed and advocated
Further information
To read more about the most relevant discussion topics at the Local Government Climate Sessions - concretely Mitigation, Adaptation, Carbon Trading and Clean Development Mechanisms (CDM) - please read the Session Report, download the PowerPoint presentations of the speakers or watch the key speeches on video. You may also visit the conference website for further information.
