Mayors pledge support for countries’ climate goals
Gathered in Rio de Janeiro, mayors, local leaders, and organizations representing cities from 20 countries pledged to support the achievement of their respective national climate goals, while also presenting more than 2,500 transformative local projects aimed at helping cities mitigate and adapt to climate change.
The commitments are outlined in the Local Leaders’ Declaration to COP30, presented this Wednesday (Nov. 5) at the conclusion of the COP30 Local Leaders’ Forum, which has been taking place since Monday (3) in Rio de Janeiro. The event precedes the 30th United Nations Climate Change Conference, which begins on November 10 in Belém.
“Together, we are committed to making people’s lives more dignified and sustainable; building more resilient communities; expanding access to renewable energy; promoting energy efficiency; reducing greenhouse gas emissions; advancing nature-based solutions; and protecting forests, biodiversity, and water resources,” the document states.
The leaders made three commitments in the letter:
- To support countries in meeting their national climate targets by acting as partners in implementation and promoting a just and resilient transition;
- To ensure a robust portfolio of more than 2,500 transformative and fundable local projects, helping to localize and channel climate finance for both mitigation and adaptation;
- To advance multi-level action and collaboration so that the COP process becomes a space for implementation and accountability.
The leaders argue that the solution to the climate crisis lies in cities, as 80 percent of global emissions come from urban areas, which are home to most of the world’s population. In Brazil, 82 percent of the population lives in cities.
“Local leaders play an essential role in the new global climate finance architecture. They have the power to regulate, plan, tax, mobilize capital, and signal markets - currently, 44 percent of all consolidated carbon pricing instruments worldwide are implemented at the subnational level,” the letter also states.
The leaders and organizations that signed the letter represent more than 14,000 cities, municipalities, states, provinces, and regional governments. In addition to Brazil, the letter includes representatives from Sierra Leone, the United Kingdom, Australia, Sweden, South Africa, Peru, Romania, Canada, Ukraine, Japan, France, Germany, Morocco, Italy, the Republic of Korea, Mexico, Argentina, and the United States.
Climate change
Brazil’s Minister of the Environment and Climate Change, Marina Silva, who also took part in a panel at the event, argued that federal, state, and municipal governments must work together to address the impacts of climate change.
In Brazil, according to the minister, 1,942 municipalities mapped since 2012 are considered vulnerable to extreme weather events.
“These municipalities need to remain in a state of emergency at all times so that we can act continuously - creating alert systems, escape routes, and locations where assistance can be provided,” she said.
Addressing the leaders, Marina Silva emphasized that, regardless of political or partisan orientation, sustainability is essential - meaning the adoption of actions that integrate the environment, society, and the economy.
“We all need to be sustainable. Some will be conservative - that doesn’t matter. You can be conservative and still be sustainable. Others will be progressive and sustainable. What we cannot be is denialist,” she said.
