More than 100 mayors from 30 countries will convene in Nantes (France) on 27 – 28 September 2013 to take part in the World Mayors Summit on Climate Change.

The high-level event will be held back to back with the ECOCITY World summit, and will capitalize on cities’ forward momentum in the fight against global warming. The first phase of the Local Government Climate Roadmap, an advocacy process aimed at voicing, engaging and empowering local governments worldwide, successfully facilitated international recognition for the role of local governments in tackling climate change. The World Mayors Summit will build on this recognition and aims to build a global consensus that will feed into the upcoming discussions at COP 19 in Warsaw (Poland) later this year and ultimately to COP 21 in Paris (France) in 2015.

Confirmed attendees include George Ferguson, Mayor of Bristol (United Kingdom), James Nxumalo, Mayor of Durban (South Africa),  Sukumbhad Paripatha, Governor of Bangkok (Thailand), Frank Cownie, Mayor of Des Moines Iowa (United States), Yvo de Boer, Special Global Advisor, Climate Change and Sustainability, KPMG, former Executive Secretary, UNFCCC, Dr. Naoko Ishii, Chair and CEO of the Global Environment Facility,
Philippe de Fontaine Vive Curtaz, Vice-President, European Investment Bank (EIB) and many others.

“Cities’ successes in lowering emissions have proven time and again that local action is the most effective way to tackle our global climate problem. The World Mayors Summit, an invitation-only event, will call for a bottom-up approach to allow cities access to financing mechanisms so that bold, innovative and necessary climate actions can continue to grow.” said Gino Van Begin, ICLEI Secretary General.

To demonstrate their commitment to stemming global warming, all mayors in attendance will be invited to sign the Nantes Declaration of Mayors and sub-national Leaders on Climate Change, which will set the foundation for the new phase of the Local Government Climate Roadmap. The document calls on local governments to join together with national governments, business, civil society and others to create a strong community working towards a low-carbon future.

The two-day event is organized by ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability, and officially supported by a broad coalition of international networks, including the World Mayors Council on Climate Change(WMCCC), UCLG, Nrg4sd, Climate Alliance, Energy Cities, and EUROCITIES.

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