World’s Cities Make Climate-protection Commitment in Hamburg

On 18 November in the city of Hamburg (Germany), the world's cities agreed to an ambitious set of climate-protection measures, less than a month before world leaders meet for the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen (Denmark).

The Hamburg City Climate Conference closed with the Hamburg Declaration, a binding document which includes an agreement to launch measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, increase energy efficiency and boost renewable energy generation in signatory cities. The Declaration lists 7 key facts, 7 commitments, and 7 calls for support by COP15, governments and international organisations. The commitments are: cooperation at global and local scale, climate action programmes, energy- saving policies, pro-climate urban planning, and citizen involvement.

The Declaration was signed by mayors and representatives of nearly 160 cities. Anja Hajduk, the environment minister of the state of Hamburg, said, "This document shows that … we accept our special role in climate protection."

The Conference brought together in Hamburg nearly 400 city representatives from all over the world to examine urban strategies to face the climate challenge. Hamburg itself was awarded the title of European Green Capital 2011 by the European Commission in recognition of its efforts to combine economic development with environmental protection.

Additional Information: Hamburg City Climate Conference

Source: ICLEI – Europe