ICLEI and UCLG at the opening of the Tianjing Climate Talks - LGs are ready for the next phase of global local climate action

04 October 2010, Tianjing, China

At the opening of the October Session of the UN Climate Talks, both ICLEI and UCLG statements affirm the importance of clearly defining the Local Governments involvement into the negotiation process for a strong, comprehensive and global post-2012 climate regime. To pursue this aim, references to LG must be kept and openly introduced, particularly regarding mitigation policies and decentralized cooperation.

The importance of the Local Governments´ role is stressed once again, pointing out how local authorities, with their direct impact on the life of their citizens, should be fruitfully involved on the process of building a sustainable development, especially for the South of the world.

Local Governments will be significantly stating their will to move forward on their level of commitment in taking action against climate change, during the World Mayor Summit on Climate (WMSC), on 21 November 2010, in Mexico City. The summit will lead to the adoption of the Mexico City Pact. The agreement will include 10 points of action, one of which will result in the launch of carbon Cities Climate Registry, as a collective local and sub-national response for measurable, reportable, verifiable local climate action towards and beyond 2012.

The UNFCCC side event, organized by ICLEI and UCLG, on Friday 8 October 2010, 18.00 – 19.30, Room Yinchuan, will give the opportunity to discuss the upcoming WMSC event and to further explore the contributions of local governments in designing a low-carbon, climate resilient future.

Speakers will include:

David Cadman, President of ICLEI, Councillor of Vancouver

Ronan Dantec, Spokesperson of UCLG, Vice Mayor of Nantes

Marcelo Dutra, Secretary of Environment and Sustainability, Manaus

Rafael Iguarta, Director International Affairs, Secretariat for Environment, Federal

Government of Mexico City

Luciana Silvestri, Climate Change and Energy, Club de Madrid

KEYNOTE SPEAKER on the role of local governments in China´s low carbon policies:

Prof. Dr. Pan Jiahua, Director, Institute for Urban & Environmental Studies, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS)