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ICLEI e-News | issue 15, November 2008

Climate Decision Maker Survey

ICLEI invites its Members to fill a survey on climate change by our colleagues at the global opinion research firm Globescan. In the words of Achim Steiner, Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme: "The results will influence decision making at all levels, not least of all at the Poznan Conference of the Parties in December where the results will be presented to the global community." Take the survey at: http://surveys.globescan.com/climatepanel/

A word from the Secretary General 

Dear Members and Partners,Picture Konrad Otto-Zimmermann

I am writing to you from the new office of the World Secretariat located in a sustainable building in downtown Toronto. Let me share a few moments of the past weeks with you.   In November ICLEI reached 1000 Members. I had the pleasure to announce this milestone together with Mr. Emani Kumar who leads the ICLEI South Asia Secretariat. We did so at the World Urban Forum in Nanjing, China, a perfect venue showing Asia’s growing involvement in urban sustainability.

From China I proceeded to Dubai. Mr. Klaus Schwab, the Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum (WEF), appointed me to serve on the Global Agenda Council on Urban Management, and this meeting was its Inaugural Summit. The WEF reported the Summit as: “a new, unique gathering of the world’s most influential thinkers – leaders from academia, business, government and society. Its purpose is to advance solutions to the most critical challenges facing humanity.” 

I am now heading to Poznan in Poland for the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP14). The international climate community will gather to discuss the global climate agreement that shall follow the Kyoto Protocol - which expires in 2012. Local governments are organizing a parallel event, the ‘Local Government Climate Sessions’. Their message will be clear: ‘Local action must become part in national climate strategies.’ This effort is part of the “Local Government Climate Roadmap’, launched at the 2007 conference by ICLEI, UCLG, Metropolis, C40 and the World Mayors Council on Climate Change. (See article below).

Never before has the effort to promote local action on climate protection been so cohesive and coordinated, I look forward to meeting our 200 delegates in December.

Signature Mr. Otto-Zimmermann

Konrad Otto-Zimmermann

General News
Dr. Rajendra Pachauri share strategies with cities to reduce carbon emissions
 December 11, 2008
As the chair of the international group of scientists (IPCC) reporting to the UN on the science of climate change, Dr. Pachauri told cities that transport planning can be a key municipal contribution to reducing climate change.  [more]
ICLEI Biodiversity
Biodiversity loss, an economic threat to cities and towns
 November 28, 2008
Pavan Sukhdev, the leader of an international study on the costs of biodiversity loss, indicated to ICLEI’s Biodiversity Task Force his intention to include local governments in his research. [more]

"Fundamental Reboot" needed for world economy and cities - World Economic Forum
 November 26, 2008
ICLEI Secretary General was invited along 700 of the world’s top thought leaders to the World Economic Forum Global Agenda Council. [more]
Obama ICLEI
President Obama and Local Governments: A Partnership With Potential
 November 12, 2008
Editorial by Michelle Wyman, ICLEI USA Executive Director. [more]

ICLEI welcomes Mumbai as 1000th Member
 November 05, 2008
Mumbai, the financial capital of India, joins metropolises such as Johannesburg, Sao Paolo, Seoul and Los Angeles, as well as smaller communities, as the 1000th Member of ICLEI. [more]
OECD logo
ICLEI President addresses OECD conference on cities and climate change
 November 05, 2008
Mr. David Cadman, ICLEI President expressed the role of international city networks on climate protection at the conference "Competitive Cities and Climate Change". [more]

Member News
       Please click to view ICLEI's Member news.
  
Upcoming Events
Logo
Poznan Local Government Climate Sessions, 9-11 December 2008
 October 25, 2008
The event will convene local government leaders on the occasion of the UN Climate Change Conference. [more]
ICLEI World Congress
ICLEI World Congress - 14 to 18 June 2009
 October 20, 2008
The program will showcase the vast work of ICLEI members on advancing sustainability. Global strategists will share their vision on the opportunities and challenges for local governments in the coming decade. [more]

5th Urban Research Symposium, 28-30 June 2008
 September 20, 2008
The Urban Research Symposium will take place on 28 to 30 June 2009. It is sponsored by the World Bank and supported by ICLEI. A call for papers is open until 30 September 2008.  [more]

Feature
Local Government Climate Roadmap
 November 19, 2008
A new movement working towards a recognized role for Local Governments in the post-2012 Climate Framework has started. From a clear city message sent in Bali to the start of a global process - cities are pressing forward with the new Local Government Climate Roadmap [more]

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