COP21 was a huge success, and city leaders left Paris with a renewed sense of purpose – but now the real work begins.
The Paris Agreement can only be brought to life with full support from all those involved, including national, regional and local leaders. The 1.5°C target means that cities and city leaders are more crucial than ever to the global fight against climate change; this goal cannot be achieved without effective climate action in cities.
Although the Paris Agreement comes into force in 2020, C40’s mayors are acting now, and are helping to ensure that the world is better able to transition to a low-carbon development pathway, avoid carbon lock in, and create smart and sustainable cities.
As part of the UNFCCC’s #ParisAgreement #Means4Me social media campaign C40’s Executive Director Mark Watts explains below:
“Paris was a real breakthrough for humanity, and we all came home with a spring in our step. Now we have got to use that momentum. Cities have a massive role to play in this; 1/3 of the global safe carbon budget will be determined by decisions made at an urban level in just the next 5 years. Our role at C40 is to help ensure that those decisions lock us in to a low carbon development pathway that creates a climate safe world and higher living standards for everyone.”
To join the campaign or find out more, click here.