2019 was a landmark moment for the global
climate movement, and as the year comes to a
close, we mark the beginning of the climate action
decade.
The next 12 months represent a pivotal,
make-or-break moment for the climate movement, and
for humanity. The science is clear: we must peak
emissions by the end of 2020 to avoid the worst
impacts of the climate crisis.
The good news, however, is that cities are
already leading some of the most ambitious efforts
to meet this goal.
30 major cities around the world have already
reached peak greenhouse gas emissions, and
many more have committed to enacting policies that
will reduce emissions by tackling
food waste, committing to
net-zero buildings, and pledging to support
zero-emission public
transportation.
But we need to do so much more.
That’s where the Global
Green New Deal comes in. Earlier this year,
our new Chair and Mayor of Los Angeles Eric
Garcetti announced
his support for a Global Green New Deal alongside
a growing coalition of mayors, global leaders,
youth activists, and labour and business
representatives.
To truly address climate breakdown,
we must drive an urgent, fundamental and
irreversible transfer of global resources away
from fossil fuels and into action that averts the
climate emergency. Crucially, this
includes putting equitable and inclusive climate
action at the center of all urban decision-making,
and securing a just transition for those working
in high-carbon industries and correct long-running
environmental injustices for those
disproportionately impacted by the climate crisis.
This is the ambition of a Global Green New
Deal.
The climate crisis demands that we forge
new kinds of partnerships and bring new ideas to
the table – this coalition is the first step
toward ensuring that all voices are represented in
this movement. The 2020s will be the decade we
create an equitable, sustainable future that works
for everyone, everywhere.
From all of us at C40, we wish you a happy
and healthy new year. Let’s work together
to make 2020 the year we changed everything.
