EUROCITIES President Gérard Collomb, Mayor of Lyon, said “combatting climate change is today’s priority, not only for national governments, but in particular for the local level, in cities, where we can make a real difference to the quality of life of people living there. Cities play a crucial role in achieving Europe’s goals on climate change. It is essential to gather our forces and to engage our cities in undertaking concrete measures. And through the EUROCITIES Declaration on Climate Change, we, as the major cities in Europe, are contributing to the global fight against climate change.”

Ronan Dantec, Vice-President of Nantes Metropole and Chair of the EUROCITIES Working Group on Climate Change & Energy Efficiency, explained the need to link local, national and European levels. “Our aim of reducing CO2 emissions is part of a global initiative for sustainable cities. All our public policies need to have a coherent approach in order to reach international targets. We are not just making empty promises, we have detailed in our Declaration certain measures that cities can follow to improve their ability to fight climate change. These are not only technical measures, but also recommendations on social responsibility and environmental practices. If we put the combined efforts of Europe’s big cities into these concrete actions, we can make a real difference.”

The official presentation and signing of the Declaration will take place at a summit on 27 October in Lyon under the French Presidency. For more information, please email Cecile Bodet.