COP15: Local Government Climate Roadmap in the Media
Below, you will find a collection of articles related to the Local Government Climate Roadmap; particularly on local governments' advocacy during the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen (COP 15), Denmark, 7-18 December 2009.
Click here to watch video interviews with local government representatives at COP 15!
Local assault on a global climate issue
19 October 2009, International Herald Tribune
This month, the mayor of Mesa, Arizona, a city of about 500,000 inhabitants in the American Southwest, became the 1,000th leader to sign on to a climate change agreement under the United States Conference of Mayors. Read more...
Local Governments and Cities Taking the Lead at Copenhagen Climate Summit
11 January 2010, United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF)
The Copenhagen Summit (COP15) confirms the commitment by cities and sub-national local governments from both developing and developed countries to take lead in the global response to climate change, in partnership with national governments, other sub-national entities and, increasingly, the corporate sector. Read more...
COP 15: Cities, States, Grassroots Transform Nopenhagen to Hopenhagen
28 December 2009, Huffington Post
COP 15 ended without legally binding emission reduction goals. True and a legitimate side of the story, but it's a story that doesn't capture the tremendous movement already underway. This is a movement begun at the grassroots level: by states, cities, provinces, non profit groups, and businesses, a movement that is gaining momentum, taking substantive action, and beginning to show some impressive results. Read more...
Copenhagen's silver lining is local government, local business and individual initiatives & actions
18 December 2009, Examiner.com
World-class leadership at the local level has met both in Copenhagen all around the world to participate in doing what it takes to increase political will and keep the ball rolling on measures and thresholds that will have an impact on decreasing emissions. And those who are in Copenhagen have shared some of their insights on what lessons they have learned and have joined with others to consider the accomplishments made without a negotiated Kyoto Protocol replacement. Read more...
Mayors watch climate change locally
18 December 2009, Marketplace
While nations are still trying to agree on how to cut emissions, many cities are already taking action. Bill Radke talks to Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels about what the U.S. Conference of Mayors is hoping to accomplish in Copenhagen. Read more...
Mayor touts Kyoto's climate-saving strides
18 December 2009, The Japan Times
The home of the Kyoto Protocol has achieved significant reductions in greenhous gas emissions over the past couple of years and can show others how the world's major cities are able to combat global warming and climate change on their own, regardless of what national governments may do, Kyoto Mayor Daisaku Kadokawa said Tuesday. Read more...
Local Government Climate Roadmap - "From Bali to Poznan to Copenhagen"
17 December 2009, ENB on the side
David Cadman, President of ICLEI, explained that the event would address local-level climate actions. Ritt Bjerregaard, Lord Mayor of Copenhagen, stressed that cities represent more than half of the world’s population and can lead the way to a solution with ambitious policies and strategies. British economist Lord Nicholas Stern noted that 80% of the world’s energy is used in cities and that many actions are easier to achieve at the local level. Read more online or download this article.
Mayors Seek Role in Climate Regulation
17 December 2009, New York Times
One of the busiest corners of the packed building where the United Nations climate conference in Copenhagen is taking place belongs to a group called Local Governments for Sustainability.
The group has been holding standing-room-only presentations since the beginning of the conference, with mayors including Michael Bloomberg and Marcelo Ebrard of Mexico City presenting their environmental achievements and lobbying for a leading role in any agreement that emerges this week. Read more...
Canada Is the Dinosaur
17 December 2009, IPS
Canada bears a large share of responsibility for any failure to make a breakthrough in reducing greenhouse gas emissions here in Copenhagen, say participants and civil society activists. ”Canada is the dinosaur at these talks,” said Canadian David Cadman, president of ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability, an international association of local governments that hosted this week's Mayor's Conference on climate change here. Read more...
Behind the scenes at Copenhagen and a message on climate change
16 December 2009, Straight.com
A commentary by ICLEI President and Vancouver Councillor David Cadman on COP 15. Read more...
Five Degrees or Low Carbon Cities
16 December 2009, Terranova
COPENHAGEN (IPS/TerraViva) On its current carbon emissions path, humanity faces a 50-percent chance of warming the planet a whopping 5.0 degrees C by the end of this century, warned Nicholas Stern, an economist who is chair of the Grantham Institute for Climate Change and the Environment at the London School of Economics. Read more...
Big names drop in to pile on pressure
16 December 2009, COP 15 Post
Cities are on the front line of making effective and immediate changes for sustainable living argue world mayors. The Climate Summit for Mayors opened in Copenhagen today with some harsh figures showing just why cities and local governments should be included in the UN climate agreement to be reached later this week. Read more...
Mexico City mayor to lead climate change mayors group
16 December 2009, Xinhua News Agency
Mexico City mayor Marcelo Ebrard was voted to lead the World Council of Mayors on Climate Change, which works on the sidelines of the ongoing UN climate change conference in Copenhagen, Mexico City officials said Wednesday. Read more...
Mexico City Mayor Marcelo Ebrard Appointed Chair of the World Mayors Council on Climate Change
16 December 2009, PRNewswire
Mexico City Mayor Marcelo Ebrard has been appointed Chair of the World Mayors Council on Climate Change. Mr. Ebrard succeeds Barbel Dieckmann, former Mayor of Bonn, Germany. The World Mayors Council on Climate Change is an alliance of municipal leaders committed to climate protection, biodiversity and sustainable development. There are currently more than 30 members of the Council, representing a vast network of local governments working to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions. Read more...
Dispatches from Copenhagen: Sustainable change
16 December 2009, Delaware Online
Tempers are flaring in Copenhagen. New drafts of an international agreement to reduce carbon emissions are being circulated and immediately challenged. A key concern is the perception by developing countries that too little is being committed to the adaptation fund, which was created in an earlier negotiation to secure annual funds for the support of communities adversely affected by the effects of climate change. Talks are stalled at the moment. Read more...
David Cadman: Behind the scenes at Copenhagen and a message on climate change
16 December 2009, The Straight
As the international president of ICLE: Local Governments for Sustainability, I have been telling delegates from around the world how Vancouver continues to prove by example that economic progress is not mutually exclusive of our collective responsibility to stop climate change. Mayor Gregor Robertson is here with the same message and yesterday, we discussed the Carbon War Room collaboration announced earlier today. Read more...
Local Mayors Speak at COP15 about the role of municipalities in climate change mitigation
16 December 2009, Golder Associates
Comments on the relationship between local government to climate change management, particularly in the context of discussions at the Local Government Side Event at COP 15 on Wednesday, 16 December 2009. Read more...
In Copenhagen, ‘To Be Elaborated’ Is a Stalemate
15 December 2009, The New York Times
One of the hardest rooms to get into in Copenhagen is the one where mayors from across the globe have gathered to boast about their green credentials.They are part of a group called Local Governments for Sustainability, which has been holding standing-room-only presentations since the opening of the climate conference last week. Read more...
UNEP and ICLEI Launch the Carbonn Climate Centre
15 December 2009, Reuters AlertNet
ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) join forces to create the Bonn Center for Local Climate Action and Reporting - carbonn. Read more...
Local governments push for recognition for emissions cuts
15 December 2009, The World Today, Australia
While world leaders are negotiating in Copenhagen, at the local level, governments are already working to cut emissions. Many councils are taking a more sustainable approach to their traditional responsibilities like roads and rubbish. But a group representing local governments around the world says councils need more recognition and funding from their national governments as Lexi Metherell reports. Read more...
World's mayors tackle climate change on their own
14 December 2009, Associated Press
Today's cities and towns consume two-thirds of the world's total primary energy and produce more than 70 percent of its energy-related carbon dioxide emissions, the International Energy Agency reports. That will grow to 76 percent by 2030, the agency says. Most comes from electrifying and heating private, commercial and municipal buildings. Read more...
UNEP and ICLEI launch the carbonn climate centre
14 December 2009, UNEP Press release
ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) join forces to create the Bonn Center for Local Climate Action and Reporting - carbonn.
"Cities will be one of the main drivers of climate change action so recording what they do is crucial," said David Cadman, President of ICLEI - Local Governments for sustainability. "Mitigation projects are a first step to achieving climate neutrality in cities and carbonn will be key to that transition." Read more...
Locals weigh in from Denmark: Crowds mar start to conference
14 December 2009, Press Democrat.com
Sonoma County's delegation to the climate conference in Copenhagen, Denmark, report overwhelming crowds, long lines and delays of several hours to register and enter halls. “The most pathetic organization of an entry to an event ever = COP15,” wrote Suzanne Smith, executive director of the Sonoma County Transportation agency, on Twitter. “Been in line for 3.5 hrs now. Haven't moved in 90 minutes. Lost feeling in feet. Oh. And patience.” Read more...
Reinventing cities critical to climate
11 December 2009, Marketplace
Most of the hard work building a low-carbon economy and lifestyle is going to be done in local communities. Commentator Alex Steffen says more than ever, acting globally means acting locally. Read more...
Mayors in Copenhagen Panel
14 December 2009, The Current, CBC Radio
For their thoughts on the role that cities are and should be playing in combatting climate change, we were joined by three people, all are attending the mayors' summit. David Miller is the Mayor of Toronto and the Chair of the C40 Group of World Cities. Lord Mayor Ritt Bjerregaard is the Mayor of Copenhagen and the host of the Summit. And Marcelo Ebrard is the Mayor of Mexico City. They are all in Copenhagen attending the Copenhagen Climate Summit for Mayors. Read more...
World youth push for a 'real deal'
11 December 2009, The Hook
There is room for 15,000 in the Bella Center, yet this isn't the only place in Copenhagen where climate action is on the books. Tens of thousands of people concerned about climate change and global warming are converging in Copenhagen for discussions outside COP15. Some reports estimate 40,000 visitors to Copenhagen for activities related to the summit. Read more...
This Barodian will represent S Asia at Copenhagen meet
11 December 2009, The Times of India
As the world leaders discuss the global climate changes at Copenhagen, very few top Indian dignitaries including Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will get an opportunity to present their views during the summit. Read more...
Des Moines mayor in Copenhagen for climate talks
11 December 2009, Radio Iowa
Des Moines Mayor Frank Cownie arrives in Copenhagen, Denmark today where he will represent the capital city and local governments throughout the country as world leaders talk about global climate change. Read more...
Ross to be acting mayor
11 December 2009, The North Little Rock Times
Mayor Patrick Hays will be in Copenhagen for the ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability an environmental organization. Hays serves as president of its board of directors and will not be present for the council meeting. ICLEI originally stood for International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives, but later changed to the current name. Read more...
African local government declaration on climate change
10 December 2009, The Africa-wide Civil Society Climate Change Initiative for Policy Dialogues (ACCID)
African local governments have declared their shared commitment to bold and up-scaled local action against climate change across the continent. They stated that local governments will be the leaders that take the initiative in defining a new future where community resilience, social justice and environmental sustainability are foremost on the agenda. Read more...
David Cadman says Canada a pariah in Copenhagen
10 December 2009, The Straight
“Canada, being an oil-producing country, does not want to see a cap on greenhouse gases,” David Cadman, a Coalition of Progressive Electors councillor and president of ICLEI—Local Governments for Sustainability, told the Straight. “They know it is going to be very difficult for them to comply and continue to produce so much oil and gas and continue to tap the tar sands.” Read more...
The constant lobbying of local authorities in Copenhagen
9 December 2009, Mediapart
The pressure on local states continues to grow and are now recognized as a full participant of the fight against disruption climatique. Without cities, states will be unable to achieve the objectives of a possible - and necessary - Copenhagen agreement. Without cities, states will be unable to achieve the objectives of a possible - and necessary - Copenhagen agreement. Read more...
Gainesville Mayor Pegeen Hanrahan attends COP 15
9 December 2009, The Independent Florida Alligator
Gainesville Mayor Pegeen Hanrahan leaves Friday to attend the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, Denmark, along with 25 other members of Green Jobs for Florida. Hanrahan is representing Green Jobs for Florida and ICLEI — Local Governments for Sustainability. Read more...
North Little Rock Mayor Pat Hays attends COP 15
9 December 2009, Today's THV
In just a matter of days, North Little Rock Mayor Pat Hays will be traveling overseas to Copenhagen, Denmark for the Climate Change Summit. He is part of an international group of local leaders and mayors working to make positive changes to the environment. Furthermore, Mayor Hays is President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of ICLEI USA. Read more...
Taipei President Ma hopes to visit Marshall Islands in the near future
9 December 2009, Taipei Times
Ko Shu-ling and Mo Yan-chih report on President Ma Ying-jeou hope to visit the Marshall Islands to see the South Pacific ally continue to support the country’s efforts to participate in international activities such as the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Read more...
Copenhagen is Europe's greenest city
8 December 2009, TJEK
Copenhagen can call itself Europe's greenest city, if you believe a new European study. Read more...
Our Grandchildren Will Ask Us What We Did
7 December 2009, Inter Press Service - TerraViva
An article about the event "Mobilizing African LGs towards energy and climate change" organised by ICLEI Africa was held on 7 December 2009 at the Local Government Climate LOUNGE at COP 15. Read the article...
Copenhagen Summit: Taiwanese communities mobilize
7 December 2009, Taiwan Info
Chou Hsi-wei, chief of Taipei County, will attend the December 14 to 17 at Mayors 'Summit on Climate in Copenhagen, Denmark. He has scheduled talks with the Mayors of Sydney, Kyoto, Wellington, London and Helsinki, and promote its proposed alliance of cities with low carbon emissions. Read more...
Boulder climate lessons to take global stage in Copenhagen
7 December 2009, The Daily Camera, Boulder, Colerado, USA
The Daily Boulder's Laura Snider speaks to the members of Boulder's two party delegation bound for Copenhagen. Read more...
David Cadman brings municipalities' message to Copenhagen climate-change conference
7 December 2009, Travis Lupick from Vancouver's Georgia Straight newspaper reports on David Cadman's departure to Copenhagen.
“It is so important that people understand that turning around the ship of state and getting to a low-carbon economy, is a very, very daunting task,” Cadman told the Straight. “But there is no alternative.” Read more...
Taipei magistrate to attend Copenhagen Climate Summit
7 December 2009, The Taiwan News
Taipei County magistrate Chou Hsi-wei will attend the Copenhagen Climate Summit for Mayors. Chief of Taipei County's Environmental Protection Bureau, the magistrate will seize the opportunity of the meeting to promote his initiative to establish an international alliance of low-carbon cities. Read more...
Local actions, global impact
6 December 2009, Contra Costa Times
Last month, the city of Berkeley wrapped up a one-year experiment in which 13 residents were able to install solar panels with little out-of-pocket expense. The effort was part of a city plan to combat global warming. Read more...
Nantes Métropole à l'heure danoise
1 December 2009, Presse Ocean
La CUN veut profiter de Copenhague pour franchir une étape dans la lutte contre le réchauffement. Read more...
Nantes Métropole au sommet de Copenhague du 7 au 18 décembre prochain
1 December 2009, Radio Sun
L'agglomération nantaise sera représentée par l'adjoint au maire et chargé de l'environnement Ronan Dantec ; de son côté Jean-Marc Ayrault se rendra sur place dès le 14 décembre. Read more...
In a Hot, Flat & Crowded World, Thank God for Cities
25 November 2009, Huffington Post
In 1900, only 160 million people, or one tenth of the world's population, lived in urban areas. As of shortly after 2000, that number had grown twenty-fold to nearly half the world's population, or 3.2 billion people. According to UN projections, this process of urbanization is only going to accelerate. By 2025, the UN predicts 70 percent of the human population will be living in cities. By the end of this year, over half will live in urban areas for the first time in human history. Read more...
Can Turkey Break the Copenhagen Deadlock?
November 20 2009, Tree Hugger, USA
Yunus Arikan, manager of the ICLEI Cities Climate Center tells Jennifer Hattam that Turkey could hold the key to unlocking the Copenhagen climate change talks. Read more...
Il n’est plus possible d’ignorer les collectivités sur la question du climat
Novembre 2009, interview with Ronan Dantec, Vice-Mayor of Nantes, France, Le Courrier des maires, N° 229.
