Mayors and representatives of nine international cities have signed an accord that commits to greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction targets for individual municipal operations and wider communities.
All signing cities are members of the World Energy Cities Partnership (WECP), which represents 15 of the largest energy cities in the world. Signing representatives of the Calgary Climate Change Accord include Dave Bronconnier, mayor of Calgary, Canada; Steve Streatch, councilor for Halifax, Canada; and Anthony W. Hall Jr., chief administrative officer for Houston.
The Calgary Climate Change Accord calls for policies, plans and operations that reduce the GHG emissions generated by activities by a minimum of 20% by 2020, with a further minimum reduction of 80% by 2050, using 2005 levels as a baseline. The signature cities of the WECP will establish a mechanism to report progress.
The signing cities further commit, within the limit of their authority and influence, that municipal governments will pursue parallel GHG reduction strategies for their communities. Each city will establish a 2005 baseline of all community GHG sources and create a plan to reduce emissions and promote lower-carbon living. The signature cities of the WECP will establish a mechanism to report community progress.
The accord is consistent with and supports the emerging agreement targets of the United Nations Climate Change Conference, which will be held in Copenhagen, Denmark, in December.
SOURCE: Office of Mayor Dave Bronconnier
