European Executive Vice President for the European Green Deal Frans Timmermans named Co-Chair of the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy
European Executive Vice President for the European Green Deal Frans Timmermans named Co-Chair of the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy
World’s largest alliance of more than 10,000 cities will continue work to tackle the climate crisis with support of European Commission and Bloomberg Philanthropies
10 December 2019, Madrid –– Today at COP25, European Commission Executive Vice President for the European Green Deal Frans Timmermans was announced as the new Co-Chair of the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy, the largest global alliance for city climate leadership, uniting a global coalition of over 10,000 cities and local governments. The European Commission and Bloomberg Philanthropies affirmed their joint commitment to the next phase for the Global Covenant’s urgent mission to tackle the climate crisis.
The need for a zero-carbon urban transition is immediate, and the costs of inaction could be devastating. Over ten percent of the world’s population, 820 million people, live in coastal zones prone to sea level rise, and 86 percent of them live in urban or quasi-urban areas. The Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy has brought together more than 10,000 cities to take bold action to fast track urban systemic change.
The rapid growth of the Global Covenant has exponentially increased the collective potential for GHG emissions reductions worldwide. A newly released report shows that, together, the Global Covenant’s more than 10,000 signatory cities and local governments could potentially reduce 24 billion tons of CO2e emissions by 2030 and 90 billion tons of CO2e emissions by 2050. On an annual basis, the 2030 reductions are equivalent to:
- Over 714 million homes’ electricity use for one year
- 1,053 coal-fired power plants operating for one year
- Over 870 million passenger vehicles driven for one year
“Urban climate action is at the heart of the European Green Deal and is essential to achieving a Global Green Deal,” said Frans Timmermans, European Commission Executive Vice President for the European Green Deal and newly announced Global Covenant Co-Chair. “I’m proud to join the leadership of the Global Covenant of Mayors, bringing the commitment of cities into our climate pact – together with regions, civil society, industry and schools – to build on our experience and track record of supporting critical climate action needed for our people and planet.”
Michael R. Bloomberg, Co-Chair and Co-Founder of the Global Covenant of Mayors said: “The Global Covenant of Mayors has made a tremendous amount of progress since we launched it – not just in building out the coalition, but in implementing real solutions. Executive Vice-President Timmermans is a proven leader in the fight against climate change, with a record of getting things done – and I look forward to working with him to bring together cities and drive more progress all around the world.”
Jorge Muñoz Wells, Mayor Lima and Global Covenant Board Member said: “Cities have never been more committed to doing whatever it takes to counter the effects of the climate emergency. With more than 10,000 cities speaking with one voice under the Global Covenant, we have an opportunity to change the world for the better.”
William Peduto, Mayor of Pittsburgh and Global Covenant Board Member said: “We’ve entered an era in which we simply must put people and planet first. The Global Covenant of Mayors brings us together and gives us the tools to translate our goals into real action.’
Maimunah Mohd Sharif, Executive Director of UN Habitat and Global Covenant ex officio board member said: “As the urban population continues to rise, cities will continue to play a key role in tackling climate change. The Global Covenant continues to grow with over 10,000 cities from over 135 countries, and I can’t wait to see where it goes from here.”
Mohamed Sefiani, Mayor of Chefchaouen and Global Covenant Board Member said: “The Global Covenant of Mayors provides a platform for Mayors and cities to share best practices. When mayors get together to share success and failures in an open and honest way, we can immediately put those learnings to use at home.”
About the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy (GCoM)
GCoM is the largest global alliance for city climate leadership, uniting a global coalition of over 10,000 cities and local governments. In June 2016, Bloomberg Philanthropies and the European Commission, under the leadership of Vice President Maroš Šefčovič, merged the Covenant of Mayors with the Compact of Mayors to form the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy. The cities and partners of GCoM share a long-term vision of supporting voluntary action to combat climate change and towards a resilient and low-emission society. GCoM serves cities and local governments by mobilizing and supporting ambitious, measurable, planned climate and energy action in their communities by working with city/regional networks, national governments and other partners to achieve our vision. Led today by Michael R. Bloomberg and European Commission Executive Vice President Frans Timmermans, the coalition comprises cities across 6 continents and 132 countries, representing over 800 million people or 10% of the global population.
For more information:
Brett Kobie
Special Advisor for Communications, Global Covenant of Mayors
bkobie@dev.gcom.anais.tech
+32 476 97 46 30