As the fight against climate change is gathering pace in European cities, signatories to the Covenant of Mayors call for the same level of determination from their national leaders in Durban. This in essence was the substance of the message endorsed today by around 400 mayors and addressed to the delegates of the UN Climate Change Conference in Durban, South Africa.
Speaking on the occasion of the third Covenant of Mayors Ceremony in the Hemicycle of the European Parliament, Minister of Environment for the Brussels Capital-Region Evelyne Huytebroeck delivered a message of hope on behalf of mayors and local elected representatives attending the conference. In a climate of uncertainty and scepticism with regard to the future of the Kyoto Protocol - which is to be sealed this week in Durban - she insisted on the urgency to find a “quick and lasting solution to climate change”.
“We, as representatives of European cities, are mobilised to shoulder our share of responsibility and fight against climate change. In return, ten days from now, at the close of the conference, we can only hope for the same level of determination from participating states gathered in Durban, and look forward to their encouraging message,” Huytebroeck enthusiastically told the audience.
The statement, which also received prior support from networks of local and regional authorities supporting the Covenant of Mayors [1], was massively endorsed by the mayors attending the ceremony.
Evelyne Huytebroeck is to attend the COP17 Summit in December where she will deliver the message in person and seek to restore faith in the process.
[1] Energy Cities, CEMR, Climate Alliance, ICLEI
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