Montreal and Vancouver are among 56 cities worldwide to join the Compact of Mayors, committing to transparently register and report their climate change action efforts. Once signed on, participating cities must compile an inventory of their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, set a reduction target and prepare a plan for both mitigating and adapting to climate change.
“I strongly believe that actions have to come from cities. We are the frontline when it comes to climate change,” Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre asserted earlier this week as he announced his city’s intentions at the World Congress of ICLEI, an international organization also known as Local Governments for Sustainability. “By joining the Compact of Mayors, Montreal makes the commitment with other leading cities worldwide to fight for cleaner air, a greener planet, a better sustainable future.”
The commitment also comes with some fairly challenging compliance requirements and deadlines. Tallies of emissions from energy consumption, transportation and waste must account for carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) and participants must set targets, using one of four approaches recognized in the Greenhouse Gas Protocol, within two years. A climate action plan must be submitted within three years and updated at no less than five-year intervals.
Des Moines, Iowa, Boulder, Colorado, and Mexico City, Chihuahua, Temixco and Toluca, Mexico, are other North American cities in the Compact, which has representation from all continents. Notably, most of the major and/or capital cities in South America are on board, including Bogotá, Buenos Aires, Caracas, Lima, Quito, Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, Asunciόn, La Paz and Santiago.
Meanwhile more than 100 city delegations adopted the Seoul Declaration in support of urban sustainability, which was also unveiled at the ICLEI World Congress. “People will embrace significant action when they see significant leadership and they have the tools to act,” reasoned Vancouver Councillor Andrea Reimer, representing her city at the Congress.