https://www.engineeringnews.co.za

Effective universal climate change agreement needs cooperation

UN Framework Convention on Climate Change executive secretary Christiana Figueres discusses ways in which cities could collaborate with national governments to fight climate change. Camerawork: Nicholas Boyd. Editing: Shane Williams. Recorded: 05/02/2014.

5th February 2014

By: Leandi Kolver

Creamer Media Deputy Editor

  

Font size: - +

The input of cities is needed for the universal climate change agreement, which is currently being drafted, to be effective, UN Framework Convention on Climate Change executive secretary Christiana Figueres said on Wednesday at the C40 Summit, in Johannesburg.

Addressing delegates in Sandton, she said participating in the drafting of this agreement, which was set to be finalised at the twenty-first session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 21) in Paris, France, in 2015, would also be in the best interest of cities, as an effective agreement would open the door not only to the global reduction of emissions, but also to shorter-term gains with direct quality-of-life dividends for residents in the cities.

“A strong international agreement that is vertically integrated with city- and some national-policy measures is in everyone’s best interest,” Figueres said. 

She further suggested three ways in which cities could collaborate with national governments.

Firstly, cities should use the "metrics of the global conversation", Figueres said.

“For example, as you improve transportation, cities can set clean energy targets that are recognisable to the international process and that monitor progress through meeting those targets,” she explained, stating that this could bring cities into the national conversation.

Figueres also said cities could “green” their current finance by considering value not only based on cost but also on the principle of low carbon and high resilience.

“[If this was done] supply chains of city services could become more resilient and less susceptible to market instability,” she said.

Figueres, thirdly, encouraged cities to open their doors to commercial investment and private funding to assist them in implementing environmental initiatives.

However, she stated that climate change could not be the only, or even primary, reason for cities to implement carbon reduction measures.

“Governments have an increasing number of competitive goals and challenges, and city governments can only pursue those if they [simultaneously] advance several agendas,” Figueres said. 

Cities could, through improving transportation, upgrading homes and buildings and pursuing smart infrastructure, make cities more livable, while simultaneously reducing greenhouse-gas emissions, she explained, adding that an increasing number of mayors were, in fact, realising that they could best pursue short-term solutions in the context of long-term challenges.

Edited by Tracy Hancock
Creamer Media Contributing Editor

Comments

Showroom

Booyco Electronics
Booyco Electronics

Booyco Electronics, South African pioneer of Proximity Detection Systems, offers safety solutions for underground and surface mining, quarrying,...

VISIT SHOWROOM 
John Thompson
John Thompson

John Thompson, the leader in energy and environmental solutions through value engineering and innovation, provides the following: design, engineer,...

VISIT SHOWROOM 

Latest Multimedia

sponsored by

Option 1 (equivalent of R125 a month):

Receive a weekly copy of Creamer Media's Engineering News & Mining Weekly magazine
(print copy for those in South Africa and e-magazine for those outside of South Africa)
Receive daily email newsletters
Access to full search results
Access archive of magazine back copies
Access to Projects in Progress
Access to ONE Research Report of your choice in PDF format

Option 2 (equivalent of R375 a month):

All benefits from Option 1
PLUS
Access to Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa for ALL Research Reports, in PDF format, on various industrial and mining sectors including Electricity; Water; Energy Transition; Hydrogen; Roads, Rail and Ports; Coal; Gold; Platinum; Battery Metals; etc.

Already a subscriber?

Forgotten your password?

MAGAZINE & ONLINE

SUBSCRIBE

RESEARCH CHANNEL AFRICA

SUBSCRIBE

CORPORATE PACKAGES

CLICK FOR A QUOTATION







sq:0.191 0.245s - 159pq - 4rq
Subscribe Now