Mayor heads to Copenhagen to promote London's action on climate change

Mayor heads to Copenhagen to promote London's action on climate change
14-12-2009 638

The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, today (Monday 14 December) travels to Copenhagen to show the rest of the world how London is tackling climate change, helping to create a low carbon economy and tens of thousands of new green jobs.

He will attend the Summit of Mayors, joining more than 80 city leaders who are gathering to demonstrate how cities are already acting to crack the issue of climate change. The event, hosted by the Lord Mayor of Copenhagen, is being held in parallel to the United Nations Climate Summit which is seeking to commit countries to binding carbon reduction targets.

During his short visit, the Mayor will promote London’s world-leading plans to encourage electric vehicle usage and seek to exploit the money saving opportunities created by cities working together.

The Mayor Boris Johnson said: ‘The only way we can tackle the serious risk of dramatic and irreversible climate change is to work on a series of radical but very practical steps. I want London to benefit from every opportunity possible as we meet the challenge of reducing carbon emissions. This will transform our city, create jobs and boost our economic resilience. Cities have clout, and I will be working with my counterparts in Copenhagen to swap the best of our solutions and create massive global markets in areas such as electric vehicle technology, rapidly speeding up the potential for us to make serious cuts in climate change emissions.’

Boris Johnson will be attending the Summit along with a range of top politicians and individuals, including Mayor Bloomberg from New York, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and Lord Stern. He and nine other mayors from around the world will take part in an event to show climate change programmes in action. He will also participate in a roundtable discussion on low carbon transport with the mayors of Hong Kong, Paris, Kyoto, Nantes, Johannesburg and Mexico City.

The Mayor will view an exhibition on urban cycling and attend the unveiling of an innovative electric hybrid bicycle. London has a presence in the main Summit venue, featuring an electric vehicle and a short film highlighting the capital's ambitious green plans.

During his trip, the Mayor will be updating Londoners via his Twitter, Facebook and You Tube sites.

· The following mayors will take part in the Future City event: Mayor Villaraigosa (LA) – Energy Efficient Lighting; Mayor Kassab (Sao Paulo) – Waste Management; Mayor Ebrard (Mexico city) – Bike Mobility Strategy; Mayor Bloomberg (NYC) – Building Retrofits; Mayor Masondo (Johannesburg) – Bus Rapid Transit; Mayor Johnson (London) – EV’s; Mayor Bjerregaard (Copenhagen) – District Heating and Cooling; Mayor Miller (Toronto) – District Cooling; Governor Bowo (Jakarta) – Carbon Finance

· Cities across the world consume 75 per cent of the world's energy and produce 80 per cent of its climate change emissions

· The Mayor is visiting the Summit in his capacity as Honorary Deputy Chair of the C40 to work on practical ways that these large cities can cut carbon emissions and save energy.

· For more information, visit: www.climatesummitformayors.dk/