What is happening in Copenhagen next December? Copenhagen will welcome the conference of the United Nations on Climate Change (UNFCCC) from 7 to 18 December 2009. This 15th Conference of the Parties (COP 15) aims at finalizing an international agreement to tackle climate change. It will replace the Kyoto Protocol which is coming to an end by 2012.
What is the Roadmap Bali – Poznan – Copenhagen? UCLG has embarked, jointly with other networks, on a Local Government Climate Roadmap strategy to ensure the role of local and regional authorities is acknowledged in the Post-Kyoto agreement. These networks decided to work together, towards the COP 15, on the occasion of the 13th Conference of the Parties held in Bali, in 2007. The World Mayor and Local Governments Climate Protection Agreement was launched during this Conference.
What is the World Mayor and Local Governments Climate Protection Agreement? The agreement expresses our conviction that local governments are key players in the implementation of climate strategies, and that their role has to be recognized among the international community. The agreement sets forth the willingness of Mayors and Local Governments to accept the challenge and responsibility of leading and taking action to combat climate change and its impacts. It was built on the existing commitments of local governments and associations, including the ICLEI - Cities for Climate Protection Campaign, World Mayors Council on Climate Change, the US Mayors’ Climate Protection Agreement, C40 Climate Leadership Group and the UCLG Jeju Declaration. It will be handed over to the Parties during the Conference in Copenhagen, in December, to raise our voice in the negotiations.
3 reasons to sign the agreement: This agreement is the only global agreement developed by Local Governments for Local Governments. By its international dimension and its aim – to obtain State’s acknowledgement of the essential role of local authorities – this agreement is complementary to agreements and covenants signed at national and regional levels. Local and Regional Governments, acting together and signing the agreement will have a greater opportunity to bring about changes in the international Climate Change negotiations and to achieve agreements that include them as real actors. The more signatures we receive, the stronger our voice will be!
First steps, first successes: Local Governments, gathered in Copenhagen from 2 to 4 June 2009 for the Local government’s climate protection leadership Summit, published a Call to the parties of the COP 15 requesting the adoption of a Post-Kyoto agreement: Far-reaching and transparent, including ambitious, clear, legally binding reduction targets; Inclusive, by recognizing the experiences of all levels of government in the planning, implementation and monitoring of climate measures and strategies.
A document entailing proposals of amendments to the current negotiating text has been produced and provided to the national delegations during the negotiations in June 2009, in Bonn. Following these, local authorities obtained the acknowledgement of local government involvement through 100 significant explicit references to their role.
Next steps: Two more negotiation rounds: 29 Sept. to 9 Oct. in Bangkok; 2 to 6 Nov. in Barcelona. Until Copenhagen, local authorities will remain watchful!
World Climate Protection Agreement
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