Non-state players’ message to COP21 negotiators: Empowering sub-national governments and divesting from fossil fuels
Gathered in Lyon on the occasion of the World Summit Climate & Territories for two days (1-2 July), hundreds of non-state players debated climate mitigation issues and strongly stated their common will to take on the challenge of limiting global warming below 2°C.
They intend to meet that challenge by aligning their daily local and regional actions with the decarbonisation of the world economy scenario, taking into account the various national, regional and local circumstances and respective capabilities, and considering that the future of society is to be designed within the perspective of a low-carbon, resilient economy.
Hosted by the Rhônes-Alpes Region, the summit was notably supported by the major networks of local authorities, amongst which Energy Cities that co-organised several events. Two side-events were held on 1 July: a round table “Concrete solutions for sustainable cities of exist: stakeholders take the floor” (with the Caisse des Depôts Group, FNAU, and PFVT) and a debate on “The Covenant of Mayors going global” – as the leader of the Covenant of Mayors Office (with EUROCITIES, CEMR and Climate Alliance).
The Covenant of Mayors at the World Summit Climate & Territories! Vice-president of Nantes-Métropole Julie Laernos and Vice-president of the European Commission Maros Sefcovic during the debate on the Covenant of Mayors going global.
Yesterday (2 July), we organised a workshop as part of the official programme focusing on “Energy generation, distribution and consumption”. The session, co-organised by Energy Cities, EUROCITIES and CLER, was full of lively debates. The city of Vancouver (Canada) even encouraged all cities to set themselves the goal of becoming 100% renewable! In the end, participants in the workshop came up with two key messages to be delivered to COP21 negotiators.
Workshop on “Energy generation, distribution and consumption” co-organised by Energy Cities, EUROCITIES and CLER.
Later, Deputy-Mayor of Sonderborg (Denmark) Aase Nyegaard, rapporteur of the workshop, shared in plenary session the participants’ key messages:
1. Sub-national governments should be provided with the political mandate to set up sustainable energy systems together with local actors;
2. The international community should agree on divesting from fossil and fissile fuels and invest in local energy efficiency and renewables.
Deputy-Mayor of Sonderborg Aase Nyegaard sharing the output of the workshop co-organised by Energy Cities
Following Aase Nyegaard, Mayor of Dunkirk (France) Patrice Vergriete introduced Energy Cities’ objectives for 2050, stressing the importance of city-to-city solidarity and cooperation as a key to achieving the energy transition.
Mayor of Dunkirk Patrice Vergriete presents the objectives of the Energy Cities network for 2050 in plenary session
- See Energy Cities’ Roadmap do COP21!
- World Summit Climate & Territories
- Photos, videos and press releases of the Summit
© photos Energy Cities
