Cities call for a more sustainable and equitable European future

An open letter to the European Council and its Member States


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 1.5C. 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 1.5C 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

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