Ten years after the landmark Paris Climate Agreement was signed at COP21, global leaders have united at Paris City Hall to mark a decade of progress against the odds and reaffirm their commitment to driving future climate talks from negotiation to delivery.
The event will bring together mayors, national government officials, international organisations, multilateral banks and some of the key architects of the COP21 deal.
It comes just five months before COP30 in Belém, Brazil, widely seen as the world’s best opportunity to realign efforts to halve emissions, phase out fossil fuels, and meet urgent 2030 goals on energy, equity and resilience.
C40 Co-chair Mayor Sadiq Khan will address one of the key themes set out by the COP30 Presidency as he delivers a keynote speech on the dangerous rise of misinformation and the vital link between climate, democracy and justice.
Mayor of Rio de Janeiro, Eduardo Paes, will emphasise the vital work of his country in preparing to host a COP that it is hoped will usher in a ‘decade of delivery’.
The event will also emphasise the links between climate and the protection of truth and science in a polarised political landscape.
Delegates will hear from American mayors, including Phoenix’s Kate Gallego, who are committed to climate action despite federal opposition and demonstrate that local authorities still have the power to bring about change.
By 2050, more than 70% of the world’s population will live in cities, which will account for more than 80% of greenhouse gas emissions.
Cities are at the heart of the global response to the climate emergency, often moving further and faster than their national counterparts.
More than three quarters of the members of the C40 Cities network (nearly 100 of the world’s leading cities committed to climate leadership) are cutting per capita emissions faster than their national governments.
All C40 cities have action plans aligned with Paris targets as a condition of membership.
Mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo said: “Ten years ago, the world came together in Paris to face down the growing threat of the climate emergency. Since then, our city and mayors around the world have made real progress, not just in cutting emissions, but improving lives.
“Cleaner air, safer streets, better housing, green jobs: these are the results of determined and effective climate leadership. The signing of the Paris Agreement in 2015 was a moment of global optimism. It is essential we capture that spirit again at COP30, ensuring that effective climate action happens every day, not every decade.”
Mayor of Rio de Janeiro, Eduardo Paes said: “When it comes to tackling the climate crisis, no one is better positioned to lead on implementation than mayors and local governments.”
Mark Watts, Executive Director of C40 Cities said: “Cities have been the driving force behind the most ambitious and effective action towards preventing climate breakdown since the Paris Agreement was signed.
“But our work is far from done. With COP30 on the horizon, cities are ready to work with national governments to help move COPs from negotiations to implementation and to scale climate solutions that protect lives, grow local economies, and advance social justice.”
