Mayors from G7 countries gathered on 15-16 May in Toyama (Japan) at the G7 Environment Ministers' Meeting Parallel Session "The Role of Cities" to discuss local climate action and to ask their national governments to promote cities' efforts on climate and energy while enhancing the low carbon transition. The session marked the first time a G7 process focused on cities and engaged mayors in the consultations with ministers. The mayors provided the cities' perspective on the direction in which the seven leading economies should go on climate, energy and resilience.

The Parallel Session, organised by the Ministry of the Environment in Japan (MOEJ), called on G7 countries and the European Union to further strengthen and enhance mechanisms to boost the innovative efforts of cities, as well as initiatives on city-to-city cooperation to advance sustainability practices on the ground. G7 countries and the EU are also expected to work together with cities and international and intermediary organisations such as ICLEI to enhance the role of cities.

"The mayors gathered here for the G7 Environment Ministers' Meeting to share their good practices have been recognised to be not just local leaders, but also climate leaders," said Wolfgang Teubner, ICLEI Europe Regional Director. "We hope this event will open the path to a more permanent exchange between mayors and ministers on the global agendas of sustainability and climate action. Two milestones were set last year: the United Nations resolution on the Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement. The leaders of the seven largest economies now have a responsibility to lead by example, keeping SDGs high on their agenda and agreeing to scale up and speed up the implementation of the Paris deal."

For more information, visit iclei.org.Image copyright: G7 Environment Ministers and Mayors in Toyama, Japan (BMUB) by "Inga Wagner" more   25 May 2016 Green Week seminar looks at the potential of social innovationGreen Week will run from 30 May to 3 June 2016 in Brussels (Belgium). This year's edition will focus on "˜investing for a greener future'. Monday 30 May will examine how investing for greener cities can improve the quality of urban life, while the following days will be dedicated to financing issues, investments in rural areas and maritime zones as well as sustainable development for future generations from a more global perspective.

ICLEI Europe will speak at a partner event on Monday devoted to the potential of social innovation in strengthening sustainability at local level. This can happen in many forms such as through nature-based or people-based solutions, and can help to foster new relationships and new institutions while promoting a green and sharing economy and more sustainable lifestyles in general.

The seminar will debate key messages for policy, practice and education that can invigorate urban social innovation and accelerate low-carbon transitions and the creation of green jobs. The event will be introduced by Dr Niki Frantzeskaki from Erasmus University Rotterdam (The Netherlands), who will share her views on how to foster the transition to urban sustainability within and across cities. As well as other well-known experts in the field, Ugo Guarnacci from the European Commission's DG Research and Innovation will speak about 'Innovating Cities: Accelerating open urban innovation' towards the end of the event.

To view the programme and to register for the seminar, click here.Image copyright: Hammarby, waterfront recreation (Flickr) by "La Citta Vita", licensed under CC BY SA 2.0 more

» Publication Date: 27/05/2016

» Source: Iclei Europe

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