President of the European Council,
Heads of States and Governments of the European Union Member States,
We, the undersigned mayors and heads of local governments have come together to urge the Heads of States and Governments of the Member States to commit the European Union (EU) and all European institutions to a long-term climate strategy with the objective of reaching net-zero emissions by 2050 – when they meet at the Future of Europe conference in Sibiu, Romania on 9 May, 2019.
The urgency of the climate crisis requires immediate action, stepping up our climate ambition and pursuing every effort to keep global temperature rise below 1.5 degrees by mid-century, as evidenced by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5C. Current energy and climate policies in place globally, set the planet on a global warming pathway of 3°C. We are reminded of the inadequacy of our response to climate change, by the thousands of young people demonstrating each week on the streets of European cities – and around the world. We cannot let the status quo jeopardise their future and those of millions of European citizens. We owe it to the next generation to make more ambitious commitments to address climate change at all levels of government and in every aspect of European policy-making. We acknowledge and support the positions of the European Parliament and of the Commission to pursue net-zero emissions as the only viable option for the future of Europe and the world. Now, we believe that the European Council has a unique opportunity to deliver this vision.We ask you to step up the EU’s climate commitments, to show global leadership and drive ambition to make appropriate and rapid progress in the implementation of the Paris Agreement. We urge you to:
Develop a just and inclusive European long-term climate strategy that enhances resilience and ensures emissions in the EU peak by 2020, more than halve by 2030 and reach net-zero by 2050;
Enhance the 2030 EU climate and energy targets and Nationally Determined Contribution to ensure a resilient, rapid and just energy transition in line with the above goals;
Align the next EU long-term budget with this strategy, remove fossil fuel subsidies and mainstream climate action as a priority across all funding programmes; and
Commit all member states to binding net-zero emissions reduction targets and the above goals.
We the mayors and heads of local governments stand ready to support and contribute to the climate leadership of Europe, as the impacts of climate change threaten the fair, equal and enduring access to opportunities that our great European cities offer. More than 9,000 cities have joined the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy, of which nearly 8,000 in Europe. Many of us are already committed to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 and have put in place city climate plans compatible with the Paris Agreement – many more are working towards it. Collectively, cities are paving the way towards 2050 with impactful actions by 2030 and by developing integrated strategies and adopting ambitious sectoral commitments. These include bold objectives to advance towards zero waste by 2030, to meet net-zero carbon standards in all buildings by 2050, to move towards 100% renewable electricity by 2035 and 100% renewable energy in cities by 2050, and finally to deliver inclusive climate action that benefits all citizens equitably
We, as mayors and heads of local governments, can play a central role in delivering on the 1.5C goal of the Paris Agreement, by developing and implementing ambitious local plans and working with citizens, business and civil society to achieve sustainable change. However, we need an enabling European framework and action by national government to guarantee long-term stability, determination and resources to support our climate efforts.
We hope that our leadership will inspire you to raise your ambition and give you confidence that net-zero emissions by mid-century is not only necessary and desirable – it is achievable if we work together. We encourage you to embrace this responsibility, and we, the mayors, will share the task of implementing it, for the benefit of European citizens and the wider world.
Signed by:
Anne Hidalgo, Mayor of Paris, France & Chair of C40
Prof. Dr. Eckart Würzner, Mayor of Heidelberg, Germany & President of Energy Cities
Anna König Jerlmyr, Mayor of Stockholm, Sweden & President of Eurocities
Juan Espadas, Mayor of Seville, Spain & climate spokesperson of CEMR
Ashok Sridharan, Mayor of Bonn, Germany & President of ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability
Thomas Kastrup-Larsen, Mayor of Aalborg, Denmark
Michalis Constantinides, Mayor of Agros, Cyprus
Mircea Hava, Mayor of Alba Iulia, Romania
Femke Halsema, Mayor of Amsterdam, Netherlands
Gianni Di Cesare, Mayor of Anversa degli Abruzzi, Italy
Evangelos Evangelides, Mayor of Aradippou, Cyprus
Alessandro Ghinelli, Mayor of Arezzo, Italy
Ralf Paul Bittner, Mayor of Arnsberg, Germany
Giulio Sciorilli Borrelli, Mayor of Atessa, Italy
Georgios Kaminis, Mayor of Athens, Greece
Gabriele De Angelis, Mayor of Avezzano, Italy
Cosmin Necula, Mayor of Bacău, Romania
Bernd Fuhrmann, Mayor of Bad Berleburg, Germany
Alexander Guhl, Mayor of Bad Säckingen, Germany
Cătălin Cherecheș, Mayor of Baia Mare, Romania
Antonella Buffone, Mayor of Balsorano, Italy
Igor Radojićić, Mayor of Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Ada Colau, Mayor of Barcelona, Spain
Brigitte Merk-Erbe, Lord Mayor of Bayreuth, Germany
Harald Schjelderup, Governing Mayor of Bergen, Norway
Michael Müller, Governing Mayor of Berlin, Germany
Ian Ward, Leader of Birmingham City Council, United Kingdom
Ovidiu Teodor Crețu, Mayor of Bistrița, Romania
Virginio Merola, Mayor of Bologna, Italy
Donato Di Santo, Mayor of Bomba, Italy
Patrick Bobet, President of Bordeaux Métropole, France
Giovanni Antonio Di Nunzio, Mayor of Borrello, Italy
Cătălin Mugurel Flutur, Mayor of Botoșani, Romania
George Scripcaru, Mayor of Brasov, Romania
Matus Vallo, Mayor of Bratislava, Slovakia
François Cuillandre, Mayor of Brest, France
Céline Fremault, Minister of Brussels capital region , Belgium
Daniel Tudorache, Mayor of București-Sectorul 1, Romania
Mihai Toader, Mayor of București-Sectorul 2, Romania
Daniel Băluță, Mayor of București-Sectorul 4, Romania
Gabriel Mutu, Mayor of București-Sectorul 6, Romania
Rafal Bruski, Mayor of Bydgoszcz, Poland
Milun Todorović, Mayor of Čačak, Serbia
Iside Di Martino, Mayor of Cagnano Amiterno, Italy
Milan Stamotovic, Mayor of Cajetina, Serbia
Stjepan Kovač, Mayor of Čakovec, Croatia
Giovanni Di Mascio, Mayor of Campo di Giove, Italy
Lorenzo Di Sario, Mayor of Canosa Sannita, Italy
Marco Ciampaglione, Mayor of Cansano, Italy
Pietro Puccio, Mayor of Capaci , Italy
Simone Angelucci, Mayor of Caramanico Terme, Italy
Gianfranco D’Isabella, Mayor of Carunchio, Italy
Giuseppe D’Angelo, Mayor of Casacanditella, Italy
Vincenzo Mammarella, Mayor of Casalincontrada, Italy
Massimo Tiberini, Mayor of Casoli, Italy
Rosanna De Antoniis, Mayor of Castel Castagna, Italy
Angelo Caruso, Mayor of Castel di Sangro, Italy
Gabriele D’Angelo, Mayor of Castel Frentano, Italy
Pietro Salutari, Mayor of Castelvecchio Subequo, Italy
Giuseppe D’Ercole, Mayor of Castiglione Messer Raimondo, Italy
Santino Di Valerio, Mayor of Cermignano, Italy
Barbara Ludwig, Mayor of Chemnitz, Germany
Umberto Di Primio, Mayor of Chieti, Italy
Gabriela Staszkiewicz, Mayor of Cieszyn, Poland
Gabriele Florindi, Mayor of Città Sant’Angelo, Italy
Sara Cicchinelli, Mayor of Civita d’Antino, Italy
Giancarlo Massimi, Mayor of Civitella Alfedena, Italy
Danilo D’Orazio, Mayor of Civitella Messer Raimondo, Italy
Norbert Tessmer, Lord Mayor of Coburg, Germany
Sandro Chiocchio, Mayor of Cocullo, Italy
Manfred Schnur, District Administrator of Cohem-Zell, Germany
Antonio Mostacci, Mayor of Collarmele, Italy
Antonio Zaffiri, Mayor of Collecorvino, Italy
Henriette Reker, Lord Mayor of Cologne, Germany
Frank Jensen, Lord Mayor of Copenhagen, Denmark
Patrick Gerard Murphy, Mayor of Cork County Council, Ireland
Giuseppe D’Alonzo, Mayor of Crognaleto, Italy
Stefan Löwl, District Administrator of Dachau, Germany
Jochen Partsch, Lord Mayor of Darmstadt, Germany
JM Van Bijsterveldt-Vliegenthart, Mayor of Delft, Netherlands
Andros Karayiannis, Mayor of Deryneia, Cyprus
Nicolae-Florin Oancea, Mayor of Deva, Romania
François Rebsamen, Mayor of Dijon, France
Leo Schrell, District Administrator of Dillingen an der Donau, Germany
Ulrich Sierau, Mayor of Dortmund, Germany
Paul Larue, Mayor of Düren, Germany
Helga Stulgies, Deputy Mayor of Düsseldorf, Germany
John Jorritsma, Mayor of Eindhoven, Netherlands
Gianfranco De Massis, Mayor of Elice, Italy
Stefan Schlatterer, Lord Mayor of Emmendingen, Germany
Bastian Rosenau, District Administrator of Enzkreis , Germany
Robert Herrmann, President of Eurométropole de Strasbourg, France
Sucaciu Gheorghe, Mayor of Fagaras, Romania
Carlo De Vitis, Mayor of Fara San Martino, Italy
Hugo Andersson, Mayor of Finspang, Sweden
Dario Nardella, Mayor of Florence, Italy
Enrico Di Giuseppantonio, Mayor of Fossacesia, Italy
Antonio Luciani, Mayor of Francavilla al Mare, Italy
Rosemarie Heilig, Deputy Mayor of Frankfurt am Main, Germany
Birgit S. Hansen, Deputy Mayor of Frederikshavn, Denmark
Martin Horn, Mayor of Freiburg, Germany
Nicola Labbrozzi, Mayor of Frisa, Italy
Ionut Florin Pucheanu, Mayor of Galati, Romania
Maurizio Bucci, Mayor of Gamberale, Italy
Thorsten Krüger, Mayor of Geestland, Germany
Frank Baranowski, Lord Mayor of Gelsenkirchen, Germany
Rémy Pagani, Mayor of Geneva, Switzerland
Wim Dries, Mayor of Genk, Belgium
Mathias De Clercq, Mayor of Ghent, Belgium
Agostino Chieffo, Mayor of Gissi, Italy
Nicola Andreacola, Mayor of Giuliano Teatino, Italy
Susan Aitken, Leader of Glasgow City Council, Scotland
Axel Josefson, Mayor of Gothenburg, Sweden
Stefan Dr. Fassbinder, Lord Mayor of Greifswald, Germany
Eric Piolle, Mayor of Grenoble, France
Peter Vennemeyer, Mayor of Greven, Germany
Andreas Henke, Lord Mayor of Halberstadt, Germany
Claus Kaminsky, Lord Mayor of Hanau, Germany
Emile Roemer, Mayor of Heerlen, Netherlands
Dr. Jürgen Pfeiffer, Mayor of Heilsbronn, Germany
Dr. Ingo Meyer, Lord Mayor of Hildesheim, Germany
David Ostholthoff, Mayor of Hörstel, Germany
Mihai Chirica, Mayor of Iasi, Romania
Georg Willi, Mayor of Innsbruck, Austria
Ruslan Martsinkiv, Mayor of Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukraine
Timo Koivisto, Mayor of Jyväskylä, Finland
Robert Fejstamer, Mayor of Kanjiža, Serbia
Damir Mandic, Mayor of Karlovac, Croatia
Dr. Frank Mentrup, Lord Mayor of Karlsruhe, Germany
Per-Samuel Nisser, Mayor of Karlstad, Sweden
Dr. Cemil Tugay, Mayor of Karsiyaka, Turkey
Dr. Ulf Kämpfer, Mayor of Kiel, Germany
David Langner, Lord Mayor of Koblenz, Germany
Dr. Joachim Wolf, Mayor of Korntal-Münchingen, Germany
Vincent Van Quickenborne, Mayor of Kortrijk, Belgium
Radomir Nikolic, Mayor of Kragujevac, Serbia
Frank Meyer, Lord Mayor of Krefeld, Germany
Mario Rajn, Mayor of Križevci, Croatia
George Panayiotou, Mayor of Kyperounta, Cyprus
Jean-François Fountaine, Mayor of La Rochelle, France
Photoula Hadjipapa, Mayor of Lakatamia, Cyprus
Mario Pupillo, Mayor of Lanciano, Italy
Kimmo Jarva, Mayor of Lappeenranta, Finland
Andreas Vyras, Mayor of Larnaka, Cyprus
Peter Soulsby, Mayor of Leicester, United Kingdom
Mohamed Ridouani, Mayor of Leuven, Belgium
Uwe Richrath, Lord Mayor of Leverkusen, Germany
Willy Demeyer, Mayor of Liège, Belgium
Martine Aubry, Mayor of Lille, France
Fernando Medina, Mayor of Lisbon, Portugal
Zoran Janković, Mayor of Ljubjana, Slovenia
Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London, United Kingdom
Gabriele Starinieri, Mayor of Loreto Aprutino, Italy
Pedro Gomes, Mayor of Lousada, Portugal
Werner Spec, Lord Mayor of Ludwigsburg, Germany
Dr. Rainer Hass, Landrat of Ludwigsburg (County), Germany
Gérard Collomb, Mayor of Lyon, France
Manuela Carmena, Mayor of Madrid, Spain
Mariangela Amiconi, Mayor of Magliano de Marsi, Italy
Francisco de la Torre Prados, Mayor of Málaga, Spain
Katrin Stjernfeldt-Jammeh, Mayor of Malmö, Sweden
Sir Richard Leese, Leader of Manchester City Council, United Kingdom
Dr. Peter Kurz, Lord Mayor of Mannheim, Germany
Mattia Palazzi, Mayor of Mantova, Italy
Wieland Stötzel, Mayor of Marburg, Germany
Barbara Heinonen, Mayor of Mariehamn, Finland
Jens Spiske, Mayor of Markransteadt, Germany
Massimo Vagnoni, Mayor of Martinsicuro, Italy
Fabio Adezio, Mayor of Miglianico, Italy
Giuseppe Sala, Mayor of Milan, Italy
Peter Marland, Mayor of Milton Keynes, United Kingdom
Gian Carlo Muzzarelli, Mayor of Modena, Italy
Luigi Fasciani, Mayor of Molina Aterno, Italy
Zimmermann Daniel, Mayor of Monheim am Rhein, Germany
Felice Novello, Mayor of Montazzoli, Italy
Nicola Di Fabrizio, Mayor of Montebello sul Sangro, Italy
Patrizia D’Ottavio, Mayor of Monteferrante, Italy
ErnestoPicciari, Mayor of Montefino, Italy
Arturo Scopino, Mayor of Montelapiano, Italy
SaverioDi Giacomo, Mayor of Monteodorisio, Italy
Massimiliano Giorgi, Mayor of Montereale, Italy
Mario Facciolini, Mayor of Montorio al Vomano, Italy
Patrice Bessac, Mayor of Montreuil, france
Roberto D’Amico, Mayor of Morino, Italy
Michele Poliandri, Mayor of Morro d’Oro, Italy
Michael Jann, Lord Mayor of Mosbach, Germany
Alberico Ambrosini, Mayor of Moscufo, Italy
Lujbo Beslic, Mayor of Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Tommaso Schips, Mayor of Mozzagrogna, Italy
Ulrich Scholten, Lord Mayor of Mülheim an der Ruhr, Germany
Dieter Reiter, Lord Mayor of München, Germany
Giοrgos Patoulis, Mayor of Municipality of Amarousion , Greece
José Ballesta Germán, Mayor of Murcia, Spain
Dražen Srpak, Mayor of Mursko Središće, Croatia
Mats Gerdau, Mayor of Nacka, Sweden
Johanna Rolland, Mayor of Nantes, France
Paolo Federico, Mayor of Navelli, Italy
Constantinos Yiorkadjis, Mayor of Nicosia, Cyprus
Darko Bulatovic, Mayor of Nis, Serbia
Diego Di Bonaventura, Mayor of Notaresco, Italy
Gregor Macedoni, Mayor of Novo Mesto, Slovenia
Dr. Ulrich Maly, Lord Mayor of Nürnberg, Germany
Daniel Schranz, Lord Mayor of Oberhausen, Germany
Federica Mattucci, Mayor of Ocre, Italy
Marco Salvati, Mayor of Ofena, Italy
Ilie Bolojan, Mayor of Oradea, Romania
Lena Baastad, Mayor of Orebro, Sweden
Danijel Vrbnjak, Mayor of Ormož, Slovenia
Vincenzo Cicolini, Mayor of Orsogna, Italy
Eramo Manfredo, Mayor of Ortona dei Marsi, Italy
Raffaele Favoriti, Mayor of Ortucchio, Italy
Raymond Johansen, Governing Mayor of Oslo, Norway
Nico Schulz, Mayor of Osterburg, Germany
Päivi Laajala, Mayor of Oulu, Finland
Angelo Simone Angelosante, Mayor of Ovindoli, Italy
Claudio D’Emilio, Mayor of Palena, Italy
Francisco Manuel Firmino de Jesus, Mayor of Palmela, Portugal
Giuseppe Masciulli, Mayor of Palmoli, Italy
Joseba Asiron Saez, Mayor of Pamplona, Portugal
Domenico D’Angelo, Mayor of Pennadomo, Italy
Giuseppe Di Giorgio, Mayor of Pennapiedimonte, Italy
Mario Semproni, Mayor of Penne, Italy
Marco Alessandrini, Mayor of Pescara, Italy
Stefano Iunianella, Mayor of Pescina, Italy
Sandro Marinelli, Mayor of Pianella, Italy
Vincenzo Catani, Mayor of Picciano, Italy
Michele Petracca, Mayor of Pietracamela, Italy
Klaus-Peter Hanke, Lord Mayor of Pirna, Germany
Vladan Vasić, Mayor of Pirot, Serbia
Heinrich Hofmann, Mayor of Planegg (Municipality), Germany
Panayiotis Papadopoullos, Mayor of Platres, Cyprus
Yiotis Papachristofi, Mayor of Polis Chrysochous, Cyprus
Rui Moreira, Mayor of Porto, Portugal
Kolarek Ljubomir, Mayor of Prelog, Croatia
Diego Valerio Giangiulli, Mayor of Pretoro, Italy
Nuška Gajšek, Mayor of Ptuj, Slovenia
Waclaw Zarski, Mayor of Raciechowice, Poland
Marco Moca, Mayor of Raiano, Italy
Burkhard Mast-Weisz, Lord Mayor of Remscheid, Germany
Emmanuel Couet, President of Rennes Métropole, France
Thomas Keck, Lord Mayor of Reutlingen, Germany
Dagur B. Eggertsson, Mayor of Reykjavik, Iceland
Andreas Sunder, Mayor of Rietberg, Germany
Olegs Burovs, Mayor of Riga, Latvia
Sami Sulkko, Mayor of Riihimäki, Finland
Vojko Obersnel, Mayor of Rijeka, Croatia
Ignazio Rucci, Mayor of Ripa Teatina, Italy
Lino Di Giuseppe, Mayor of Rocca Santa Maria, Italy
Mauro Leone, Mayor of Roccapia, Italy
Domenico Giangiordano, Mayor of Roccascalegna, Italy
Sabatino Ramondelli, Mayor of Roio del Sangro, Italy
Costantino De Micheli, Mayor of Rosciano, Italy
Ahmed Aboutaleb, Mayor of Rotterdam, Netherlands
Charlotte Britz, Lord Mayor of Saarbrücken, Germany
Luciano Marinucci, Mayor of San Giovanni Teatino, Italy
Tiziana Magnacca, Mayor of San Salvo, Italy
Antonio D’Angelo, Mayor of San Valentino in A.C., Italy
Lorenzo Berardinetti, Mayor of Sante Marie, Italy
Giovanni Mastrogiovanni, Mayor of Scanno, Italy
Philippe Laurent, Mayor of Sceaux, France
Alfonso Ottaviano, Mayor of Scerni, Italy
Luciano Piluso, Mayor of Schiavi d’Abruzzo, Italy
Dirk Harscher, Mayor of Schopfheim, Germany
Dorin Nistor, Mayor of Sebeș, Romania
Celestino Bernabei, Mayor of Secinaro, Italy
Dr. Vlasta Krmelj, Mayor of Selnica ob Dravi, Slovenia
Maurizio Mangialardi, Mayor of Senigallia, Italy
Álvaro Manuel Balseiro Amaro, Mayor of Sesimbra, Portugal
Maria das Dores Meira, Mayor of Setúbal, Portugal
Yakup Otgöz, Mayor of Seydikemer, Turkey
Astrid Cora Fodor, Mayor of Sibiu, Romania
Ovidiu Dumitru Mălâncrăvean, Mayor of Sighișoara, Romania
Andrea Scordella, Mayor of Silvi , Italy
Tim-Oliver Kurzbach, Lord Mayor of Solingen, Germany
Erik Lauritzen, Mayor of Sonderborg, Denmark
Luciano Di Lorito, Mayor of Spoltore, Italy
Manfred Scherer, Mayor of Sprendlingen-Gensingen, Germany
Hans Josef Linßen, Mayor of Straelen, Germany
Roland Ries, Mayor of Strasbourg, France
Stanislav Rebernik, Mayor of Štrigova , Croatia
Andreas Papacharalambous, Mayor of Strovolos, Cyprus
Peter Pätzold, Mayor of Stuttgart, Germany
Annamaria Casini, Mayor of Sulmona, Italy
Andelko Nagrajsalovic, Mayor of Sveti Juraj na Bregu, Croatia
Lauri Lyly, Mayor of Tampere, Finland
Dorin Florea, Mayor of Târgu Mureș, Romania
Thomas Schmidt, Mayor of Teltow, Germany
Pauline Krikke, Mayor of The Hague, Netherlands
Nicolae Robu, Mayor of Timisoara, Romania
Erion Veliaj, Mayor of Tirana, Albania
Riziero Zaccagnini, Mayor of Tocco da Casauria, Italy
Angelo Radica, Mayor of Tollo, Italy
Remo Fioriti, Mayor of Tornareccio, Italy
Giacomo Carnicelli, Mayor of Tornimparte, Italy
Carmine Ficca, Mayor of Torricella Peligna, Italy
Domenico Piccioni, Mayor of Tortoreto, Italy
Malagari Trematerra, Mayor of Trasacco, Italy
Peter Brocka, Mayor of Trnava, Slovakia
Boris Palmer, Mayor of Tübingen, Germany
Ernano Marcovecchio, Mayor of Tufillo, Italy
Chiara Appendino, Mayor of Turin, Italy
Minna Arve, Mayor of Turku, Finland
Paul Van Miert, Mayor of Turnhout, Belgium
Giovanni Placido, Mayor of Turrivalignani, Italy
Hans Lindberg, Mayor of Umeå, Sweden
Erik Pelling, Mayor of Uppsala, Sweden
Jan van Zanen, Mayor of Utrecht, Netherlands
Joan Ribo i Canut, Mayor of Valencia, Spain
Oscar Puente Santiago, Mayor of Valladolid, Spain
Camillo D’Angelo, Mayor of Valle Castellana, Italy
Ritva Viljanen, Mayor of Vantaa, Finland
Cheryl Jones-Fur, Deputy Mayor of Växjö, Sweden
Domenico Vespa, Mayor of Villa Celiera, Italy
Antonio Paride Ciotti, Mayor of Villa Santa Lucia, Italy
Giuseppe Finamore, Mayor of Villa Santa Maria, Italy
Fernando Gatta, Mayor of Villalago, Italy
Nathalie Apperé, Mayor of Ville de Rennes, France
Giuseppina Colantoni, Mayor of Villetta Barrea, Italy
Hans Bonte, Mayor of Vilvoorde, Belgium
Gorka Urtaran, Mayor of Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain
Boban Djurovic, President of Vrnjacka Banja, Serbia
Christian Thegelkamp, Mayor of Wadersloh (Municipality), Germany
Andreas Hesky, Mayor of Waiblingen, Germany
Sonja Leidemann, Mayor of Witten, Germany
Jacek Sutryk, Mayor of Wroclaw, Poland
Milan Bandić, Mayor of Zagreb, Croatia
Ionel Ciunt, Mayor of Zalau, Romania
Sandro Maculan, Mayor of Zugliano, Italy