European and US mayors support climate change strikes

Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo, New York’s Bill de Blasio, Los Angeles’ Eric Garcetti and lord mayor of Copenhagen, Frank Jensen, all signed an open letter which said: “We have an opportunity to show, not only that we hear their message, but that they have inspired us to act even faster.”

The mayors emphasise that transforming cities to prevent the “climate crisis” will make them healthier, more equitable and safer.

Issues such as climate change and air quality have become increasingly prevalent in discussions about the benefits of ITS solutions over the last few years.

“The cities of the future will enjoy affordable and reliable public transport,” the letter says. “The air will be free from poisonous toxins; buildings will generate zero emissions thanks to ultra-high efficient heating, cooling and insulation; waste will be recycled or reused, and all of this will be powered by abundant renewable energy.”

Mayors around the word are working through C40 Cities - a group of cities encouraging action that reduces greenhouse gas emissions - to deliver on the Paris Agreement.

“Science-based action” is needed from every sector of the economy, the letter added. “Young people are telling us that the climate emergency demands an emergency response. We couldn’t agree more,” it concluded.

Earlier this month, the government of Moscow %$Linker: 2 External <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-16"?><dictionary /> 0 0 0 link-external signed false https://www.itsinternational.com/sections/general/news/moscow-to-implement-zero-emission-area-by-2030/ false false%> the C40 Green and Healthy Streets Declaration to establish an area in the Russian capital that is free from exhaust gases by 2030.