Daring Cities 2021 Call for Transformation

This call reflects the discussions and exchange among the participants at Daring Cities 2021. ICLEI will convey this call to various processes throughout Urban October and UNFCCC COP26 in Glasgow, and beyond.

Background

The climate emergency is a global challenge, with local, subnational, national, continental, and planetary dimensions the likes of which the world has yet to face. Governments, institutions, leaders, and communities must prepare, mobilize, and act in a manner that has not been experienced during any previous crises in the history of humanity. Yet despite this, the number of governments declaring climate emergency and fully delivering on their promises is insufficient.

Tackling a challenge as widespread and multifaceted as the climate emergency requires significant change of personal, institutional, and societal mindsets. Communities, leaders, and institutions need transparency, clarity, and greater preparedness on the scale and scope of these changes and must build upon the successes or failures of previous challenges in embracing this change.

Cities and regions are uniquely positioned for the implementation of critically needed local climate action. However, no city, town or region is – nor can be expected to be – capable of tackling the climate emergency on their own. To ensure the essential, transformational changes required, we must unite and collaborate in a collective effort like no other.

The daring cities, towns, and regions already responding to the climate emergency need support and action from fellow local and regional governments, from communities and stakeholders at large, and from national governments and the international community.

These are their demands.

Towards fellow local and regional governments

· Declare climate emergency to mobilize resources and increase capacity to achieve climate commitments.

Connect climate emergency declarations to net zero, climate neutrality, and resilience commitments for 2030 and 2050, in order to harness public and political engagement, ensure institutional ownership, and mobilize much-needed financial, technical, and human resources for effective climate action implementation.