Today, the C40 Steering Committee with Mayor of Paris Anne Hidalgo and U.N. Secretary-General's Special Envoy for Cities and Climate Change Michael R. Bloomberg issued a statement of solidarity against terrorism and a unified commitment to build resilient and sustainable cities of the future. Led by mayors, the C40 Steering Committee provides strategic direction for the organisation.
We, the C40 Mayors, are united in expressing our sorrow and solidarity to all the victims of terrorism, who died or were injured because they wanted to live as free citizens in inclusive, open-minded and multi-cultural cities.
The C40 Steering Committee meeting during COP21, December, 2015. Photo: Jasper Carlberg.
Today, we are at Paris City Hall to commit ourselves to acting without delay to tackle climate disruption, which is a global challenge to the daily life of our citizens and to the legacy we will leave to future generations.
As the Mayors of 82 of the largest and most iconic cities in the world, we know that creating better cities changes lives. Through C40 and other organisations, cities are demonstrating that they have a key role to play in the international efforts to build social cohesion and resilience. For that purpose, we are fully committed to strengthen our collaboration as a network of city leaders, knowing that we each advance more quickly because we are able to work together.
At the same time, many of our cities are facing terrorist actions and/or threats, aimed at destroying that which makes the great cities of the world so attractive – our model of a pluralistic and inclusive society – and at creating strife and conflict among our citizens and communities. Our beautiful and vibrant cities can be turned into places of grief and sorrow as evidenced only a few days ago in Beruit, Paris, Bamako, Istanbul and Tunis.
There can be no excuse for the barbaric acts that Paris and other cities have witnessed in recent weeks. Yet we also know that climate change will add increasing stress to many already vulnerable parts of the world, escalating the risks of violence and unrest.
We take the commitment to tackle extremism and terrorism with the same concern and strength we use in our action against climate change. On the one hand, we are united in our efforts to protect our citizens against the immediate threat of terrorism. At the same time, we join forces to take the necessary action to prepare for our children’s future, protect humanity from climate change, and build a prosperous, low-carbon future.
Signed by the C40 Steering Committee
With
Anne Hidalgo, Mayor of Paris
Michael R. Bloomberg, UN SG Special Envoy for Cities and Climate Change