EU, US mayors vow to work together on climate change

Mayors from both sides of the Atlantic Wednesday pledged to join hands in highlighting the key role played by local and regional level in adapting to the effects of climate change.

The mayors made the pledge while attending a high-level debate on climate change during the plenary session of the Committee of the Regions (CoR), the European Union's assembly of regional and local representatives.

The mayors said that they will also push for the recognition of the role played by local and regional level in the conclusions of the UN climate change summit in Copenhagen next December, where the CoR will represent the regions and cities of Europe within the official EU delegation led by the Swedish Presidency.

Vice President of the US Conference of Mayors Elizabeth B. Kautz, who was invited to the debate, also met with CoR President Luc Van den Brande and EU Energy Commissioner Andris Piebalgs to discuss ways in which her organization can work more effectively with its EU equivalent, the Covenant of Mayors.

Kautz said: "US mayors stand solidly with mayors across the globe who believe that climate disruption is an urgent threat to the environmental and economic health of our communities."

"Although our national government did not sign the Kyoto Protocol, almost 1,000 US mayors have subsequently signed the US Mayors Climate Protection Agreement, pledging to meet or beat Kyoto Protocol targets," she said.

Luc Van den Brande said: "I am delighted that our colleagues from across the Atlantic have agreed to look at ways in which we can all work more closely together towards the shared goal of adapting to climate change at the local and regional level."

Commissioner Piebalgs said: "If the battle against climate change is to be won, it will have to be fought in the cities. I'm very proud that the mayors of America and Europe are willing to work together in this endeavor, and I am convinced that the administration which is closest to the citizen, the municipalities, will play a major role in mobilizing efforts to reach an ambitious agreement in Copenhagen ."

Among the possible collaboration opportunities discussed by the three politicians were "green" twinning programs that would allow cities in the United States and Europe to share best practice on climate change adaptation and mitigation, as well as combining their efforts to raise awareness among citizens of the need to save energy and reduce emissions.

Source: Xinhua