Compact of Mayors gains momentum with 36 additional cities

From Johannesburg, South Africa to Paris, France to Seoul, South Korea, cities around the world are demonstrating collective leadership to fight climate change. Today, these megacities and 33 other leading cities and towns intensified their commitment to climate action by pledging to comply to the Compact of Mayors.

“One of the most effective ways cities are fighting climate change is through the Compact of Mayors,” said Michael R. Bloomberg, UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy on Cities and Climate Change. “The Compact reflects the commitment that cities are making to reduce carbon emissions and the crucial role they play in creating a healthier future. As nations come together to negotiate a global climate treaty later this year, the Compact of Mayors offers proof that international cooperation on climate change can produce big results.”

Launched at the 2014 UN Climate Summit, the Compact establishes a common platform to capture the impact of cities’ collective actions through consistent, public reporting of their efforts.

To take part in the Compact, cities are required to register their climate mitigation and adaptation targets, report their vulnerability assessments and emissions inventories using the global standard GPC on a recognized public reporting platform such as the carbonn Climate Registry or CDP Cities. More information, including FAQs and notes on compliance, can be found on the newly-launched Compact of Mayors website (compactofmayors.org).

“As I like to say : “Think global, act local”. I strongly believe that actions have to come from cities. We are the frontline when it comes to climate change. By joining the Compact of Mayors, Montreal makes the commitment with other leading cities worldwide to fight for cleaner air, a greener planet, a better sustainable future, ” said Denis Coderre, Mayor of Montreal, Canada.

The full list of cities that announced their intent to comply to the Compact of Mayors include:

• Seoul (South Korea), Catbalogan (Philippines), Quezon City (Philippines), Santa Rosa (Philippines), Sebarang Parai (Malaysia), Balikpapan (Indonesia), Bogor (Indonesia), Gwallor (India), Shimla (India), Tarakan (Indonesia), Melbourne (Australia) , Rajkot (India), Singra (Bangladesh)
• Montreal (Canada), Vancouver (Canada), Des Moines (USA), Boulder (USA),
• Vaxjö (Sweden), Paris (France), Freiburg (Germany), Seriferisar (Turkey), Bristol (UK)
• Johannesburg (South Africa), Durban (South Africa), Cape Town (South Africa), Dakar (Senegal), Port Elizabeth (South Africa), Stanger Municipality (South Africa), Tschwane (South Africa)
• Chihuahua (Mexico), Medellin, (Colombia), Recife (Brazil), Itu (Brazil), San Rafael de Heredia (Costa Rica), Temixco (Mexico), Toluca,(Mexico)

These cities join the first batch of 20 Latin American cities that pledged to comply to the Compact at the recently concluded C40 Latin American Mayors Forum.

Seoul Action Plan for the Compact of Mayors

To mobilize other global leaders to commit to the Compact of Mayors, Mayor Park Won Soon unveiled the Seoul Action Plan. The Plan encompasses a series of practical plans that will effectively address climate change through sustainable development, reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, planning low emission development, responding to the impacts of climate change, and intensifying city-city cooperation.

The Plan also outlines Seoul’s commitment to support the Compact of Mayors, working closely with the global city networks leading the Compact of Mayors initiative.  It is supported by the Special Envoy Michael R. Bloomberg, UN-Habitat and three global city networks – ICLEI, C40 and UCLG.

“Seoul commits to reduce emissions by 10 million metric tons over the next five years. The Seoul Action Plan will seek to ensure that exchange of such leading efforts are encouraged and promoted, ” said Mayor Park Won Soon. He also reiterated his city’s promise to “actively follow up with local governments participating in the ICLEI World Congress 2015 on how they define their roles to ensure the success of the Compact of Mayors.”

Find out more about the Compact of Mayors at compactofmayors.org  . Download the Seoul Action Plan.