Photo credit, Earth Negotiations Bulletin” width=”200″ height=”140″ /> 10 December 2008: A Local Government Climate Session co-organized by Local Governments for Sustainability (ICLEI) and the Association of Polish cities was held in Poznan, Poland, in parallel to the 14th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP) of the UNFCCC. Mayors and local authorities, representing cities around the world, delivered a joint message to the COP stating that cities and local governments – which represent half of the world’s population and consume up to 80% of the global energy resources – are committed to: implement local climate actions; achieve ambitious reduction targets; mobilize citizens; and offer national-local partnership to reduce global warming.
UN-HABITAT Executive Director Anna Tibaijuka, as the UN focal point for cities, is expected to raise the profile of urban issues in the climate change negotiations. [UN-HABITAT Press Release]