Recognizing New and Existing City Commitments Ahead of the Global Climate Action Summit
This September, climate leaders from around the world will come together at the Global Climate Action Summit in San Francisco to recognize the important contributions that cities, sub-national states, businesses, and the financial community are making to solve the global climate change crisis. Cities and local governments around the globe – including yours – have been stepping up over the years, setting bold targets and taking decisive action to ensure Paris Agreement goals are met.
Through the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy, your significant commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to climate change will be recognized as part of a global "aggregation" report which will be released on the 10th of September, and will quantify the collective impact that cities and local governments around the world will have by fully implementing their ambitious climate action plans. Building upon a global call to bring additional "sectoral" commitments to the Global Climate Action Summit, the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy alongside city network partners, launched the One Planet Charter last December to capture new and existing ambitious and quantified commitments in five key sectors: Urban Mobility, Renewable Energy, Low Carbon Building, Solid Waste and Resilience.
Many cities are already taking action in these sectors – and if these targets have been reported through our partner reporting platforms, the Global Covenant of Mayors has collected those commitments and registered them as part of the One Planet Charter.
If your city would like to make a new commitment related to Urban Mobility, Renewable Energy, Low Carbon Building, Solid Waste and Resilience, you can do so through the One Planet Charter or sign one of many specific declarations that will all be brought to the Global Climate Action Summit this September.
If your city has already set a bold target related to Urban Mobility, Renewable Energy, Low Carbon Building, Solid Waste and Resilience but has not yet reported it, you can do so now by contacting us at oneplanet@globalcovenantofmayors.org. We will then add your target to the reporting platform your local government is using.
At the Summit we will highlight all of these commitments on the main stage and during the Sustainable Communities break out session on the 13th of September. Going forward we will aim to use this evidence to increase demand for sustainable and resilient infrastructure, products and services, explore access to finance, while also recognizing the importance of working closely with national governments and business sectors to mobilize climate action.
The One Planet Charter is a broad umbrella which aims to capture all quantified, clear and measurable targets, commitments and ambitions that a city has reported and that correspond to one of the five pillars of One Planet Charter.
Examples of how a commitment should be categorized:
1. URBAN MOBILITY
You may sign on to the Green & Healthy Streets("Fossil Fuel Free Streets") Declaration, where cities pledge to procure only zero-emission buses from 2025, make a major area of their city zero emission by 2030, and encourage a shift to walking, cycling, and public transport. See web-page for more information.
Other Examples of Targets:
The city has committed to the reduction of 13.75% of GHG emissions through the prioritization of non-motorized modes and mass public transport
By 2020, a total of 130 electric buses will be in operation
Cities sometimes makes ambitious commitment in broader terms, for example “We will electrify all of our buses by 2030.” This is interpreted to mean a 100% commitment to electrification in the transportation category.
Install 50% self-generated renewable energy use by 2025
Increase total of wind energy capacity to 300 MW in the port area and 50 MW on the borders of the city area
“…..city will set a new goal to reach 100% renewable energy as part of its citywide energy vision in 2017. “
3. LOW CARBON BUILDINGS & TECHNOLOGIES
You may commit to the "Net Zero Carbon Buildings" Declaration, by enacting regulations and/or planning policies to ensure new buildings operate at net zero carbon by 2030, with all buildings to follow by 2050. Cities can additionally commit to exclusively owning, occupying and developing assets that are net zero carbon in operation by 2030.
Other Examples of Targets:
50% of Council Building using energy Efficient Appliances
4. SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT
You may commit to the "Advancing Towards Zero Waste" Declaration by pledging to reduce the amount of waste generated by at least 15% per capita by 2030. Cities also pledge to reduce the amount of municipal solid waste disposed to landfill or incineration by at least 50% and increase the diversion rate away from landfill and incineration to at least 70% by 2030.
Other Examples of Targets:
Divert 65% of solid waste from the landfill by 2030
5. RESILIENCE
All cities that have reported a climate action plan, counts as a resilience commitment.
Other Examples of Targets:
Reduce GHG emissions through the planting of 200,000 tree saplings and environmental certification of 20% of civil construction
In general, a target or commitment, in order to be measurable, should have a percentage of reduction or wording as “the city is committed to changing ALL...” and the exact sector that the commitment corresponds to.
For any questions on how to register your commitment, ensure that your existing commitment is included, or what "counts" please contact:
