Call to Tackle Climate Change

Local governments across the world called for direct access to climate change funding at the Local Government Climate Change Summit held in Copenhagen on 4 June.

Emphasising that they are now ‘ready to take responsibility’, a declaration adopted at the summit stated: “cities and local authorities should be empowered with the capacities and the resources required to take necessary action at the local level and to support the parties in their efforts to meet the agreed targets.”

It states that local authorities should be allowed better access to the global flux of carbon funds, including, but not limited to, the Adaptation Fund, the Technology Fund and other relevant financing options.

 “Most of the greenhouse gases emanate from the towns and cities, said Henning Jensen, the rapporteur on climate for the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR).
“Local authorities are one of climate change’s main causes, they should be a part of the solution.”

The declaration also calls for at least US $1 billion to be mobilised to assist the vulnerable low-income countries in climate actions.

To view the declaration click here.

Last Updated: 11. 6. 2009 15:40:34 By Katherine Hitchcock