|
||
 |
||
Climate Alliance backs campaign for IPCC Special Report on Cities and Climate Change |
|
Brussels/Frankfurt 1 April 2016. On April 11 - 13, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) will held its Forty-third Session in Nairobi. The main agenda items will be the follow-up of the 21st Conference of the Parties (COP21) and the themes for Special Reports during the Sixth Assessment Report cycle. Among the 28 proposed themes is the suggestion for an IPCC Special Report on Cities and Climate Change, submitted by the South African Government. Cities are responsible for over 70% of CO2 emissions from global final energy use and are vulnerable hotspots of climate change impacts. They are crucial in fighting climate change as well as in building resilience to its impacts. For the past decades, this has been demonstrated in a number of worldwide city networks and initiatives. The largest one being the Covenant of Mayors initiative which gathers over 6,000 cities in more than 50 countries committed to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions through the implementation of integrated energy and climate action plans. Cities have been demonstrating their leadership in fighting climate change, but the nexus between cities and climate change is still seldom documented in previous IPCC assessments. The IPCC Fifth Assessment Report included for the first time two chapters dedicated to urban areas, one on urban adaptation to climate change (Ch. 8) and one on the role of spatial planning and urban areas in mitigating climate change (Ch. 12). Yet, a deeper scientific understanding of integrated mitigation and adaptation action at the local level is needed. Climate Alliance fully supports the proposal from South African Government for an IPCC Special Report on Climate and Cities that will help closing the scientific gap concerning the linkage between cities and climate change and address governance, policy and financial aspects. This will offer an opportunity to engage with local, regional and national governments, city networks and other relevant stakeholders. How to support the campaign? You can submit a request to your national government, calling for an IPCC Special Report on Cities and Climate Change, through a phone call or email to your country’s IPCC National Focal Point. In addition, a social media campaign with #CitiesIPCC is launched urging citizens to appeal to their national governments to vote for this report. Letter to National Governments: Download the letter (word)
|
|
|
