Cities Can Play Major Role in Addressing Global Warming (Meeting)
Marrakech, 11/11/2016 (MAP) – Participants at a meeting on cities and human settlements stressed the important role that city governments can play in addressing global warming.
The event, co-organized by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability (ICLEI), kicked-off with opening remarks from Gino Van Begin, Secretary General, ICLEI, Local Governments for Sustainability, Ambassador Laurence Tubiana, France High-Level Climate Champion and Mohammed Nabil Benabdallah, Minister for Housing and Urban Policy of Morocco.
They called upon national governments to provide support to sub-national governments for local climate action.
Cites and Human Settlements Day at COP22 was the occasion for The Global Alliance for Buildings and Constructions to launch a roadmap for buildings, with a focus on low energy efficient building and climate finance, particularly for developing countries.
Urban areas are responsible for an estimated 70% of energy-related global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions with the building and construction sector accountable for over 20% of global emissions.
According to the World Bank adapting to climate change could cost $80 to $100 billion per year, 80% of which will need to be invested in cities in order to achieve the goal of keeping global warming under 2 degrees Celsius.
