With 2020 only 20 days away, subnational actors must be part of the equation

At the COP25 in Madrid, there is an emphasis on the role subnational actors can and should play in emissions reductions. According to Local Governments for Sustainability (ICLEI), cities, for example, account for 80% of global GDP and 70% of emissions, and yet 90% of emissions from cities can be reduced with current technology. To raise ambition, countries should work with subnational partners to achieve Paris Agreement targets and Agenda 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This is especially relevant as Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) to the Paris Agreement are up for renewal in 2020.

The Mayor of Bonn, Germany and ICLEI President, Ashok Sridharan, acknowledged the urgent nature of the problem, as highlighted by our youth taking to the streets. Bonn has pledged climate neutrality no later than 2035 and has identified more than 300 measures to enhance climate action that will be presented to their city council in the near future. Close to 300 cities have declared climate neutrality, and with the 50^th anniversary of Earth Day around the corner, ICLEI asserts that now is the time for more cities to make this commitment.  

Turku, Finland, has innovative programs that have attracted international attention. Minna Arve, the Mayor of Turku, said they are transitioning to renewable energy by 2025, are phasing out coal, and have committed to longer-term goals so that there will be political continuity. They are taking strides towards a circular economy by setting goals to become waste-free and have developed a platform to involve large and small businesses and universities.  

The Mayors of Recife, Brazil, and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania discussed ways that cities can contribute to climate action despite lack of federal support. Recife has pledged neutrality by 2050 with significant action by 2030, and an integration of climate change into the school curriculum, which, by its nature, informs and engages families. Pittsburgh has focused on rebuilding the city in a post-industrial era, with an emphasis on technology and a P4 policy that tax-funded projects must address all four economic standards of people, planet, place, and performance.

The private sector also has a significant role to play in increasing ambition towards Paris Agreement targets and Sustainable Development Goals.  British Telecommunications is one of the first companies to set a 1.5°C goal and has pledged net zero by 2045 and an 80% reduction in emissions by 2030. They have invested in renewable energy, are transitioning to an electric fleet, and have created smart apps for transport to reduce wasted emissions (and time) spent searching for parking. They require their suppliers to reduce emissions and have thereby found that buyers have considerable power and send critical demand signals to the market. Through their combined efforts, they saved 11.7 million tons of carbon last year.

The Coalition for Urban Transitions recently launched a report Climate Emergency, Urban Opportunity (link) that involved more than 50 partners. It emphasizes that investments now will yield benefits that exceed costs. Cities will be cheaper to build and operate and tens of millions of jobs will be created with green innovation.

The Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy also had a strong showing at the COP. New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg spoke of the impending paradigm shift that should be all-inclusive and leave no one behind. He said if we don’t shape it, something else (i.e., the climate) will. It was also discussed that cities present the biggest challenges to climate action and sustainability but also the biggest opportunities.

In addition to their critical role in emissions reductions, the Global Environmental Facility, a Fund established in 1992 to help address environmental problems of global significance, has found that cities are ideal for pilot projects and new program incubation. However, collaboration with federal and state governments is needed for efficient implementation. As an example, to reduce emissions in the transportation sector, federal governments can establish vehicle efficiency standards, state and regional governments can establish electric vehicle charging networks, and local governments can create and enact zoning regulations for walkable communities. With COP25 Chile-Madrid the last COP before 2020, and indeed, with 2020 a mere 20 days away, this is the right moment for increased ambition and collaboration at national and subnational levels.