To help ensure that COP 21 is a success, civil society actors from all over the world are gathering in Lyon on July 1st and 2nd.
On July 1st and 2nd, 2015, the Rhône-Alpes Region will host the World Summit Climate & Territories at its Regional Headquarters in Lyon (France). This summit is being organised by local and regional authorities alongside with non-state actors from all over the world in order to:
- advance a common message in the negotiations;
- promote their own commitments to reducing greenhouse gases;
- and develop proposals to boost their ability to take action.
Discussing about world heritage
This Summit is supported by the French government, which is promoting an agenda of solutions for the COP21 in Paris.
The mobilisation of non-state actors and local authorities will be critical to the success of the Paris Climate Conference that is bringing together Governments from all over the world in December"
Explains Jean-Jack Queyranne, President of the Rhône-Alpes Region, which is hosting the event. "The energy transition is above all the responsibility of citizens and territories: it's time to act locally and think globally."
"Territorial actors are currently playing a major role in the fight against climate change, since they are the ones taking concrete action on the ground every day,"says Ronan Dantec, the UCLG's global spokesperson for climate issues and Co-Coordinator of the World Summit on Climate and Territories.
The World Summit Climate & Territories is a major event leading up to the COP21, bringing together 800 representatives of non-state actors and local and regional authorities for two days in Lyon: elected officials from Europe and around the world, particularly from Regions, Provinces, and Federated States in both North and South that are pioneers in the field of climate change; key figures from the Major Groups representing non-state actors at the UN (NGOs, companies, unions, etc.); and international experts.
Objectives of the World Summit
The World Summit Climate & Territories has two objectives:
- Show that concrete commitments from non-state actors and local and regional authorities will help make it possible to keep global warming below 2 °C
- Make proposals so that the agreement that is adopted in Paris enhances the capacity of non-state actors as well as local and regional authorities on the ground, particularly in terms of financing
10 groups are already working to develop these proposals as part of collaborative workshops.
These concrete proposals and commitments will be passed on to the French President and all the Countries participating in the Paris COP21.
François Hollande, President of the French Republic, and Maroš Šefčovič, Vice-President of the European Commission in charge of the Energy Union, have confirmed their participation in the World Summit Climate & Territories, the only event bringing together all facets of civil society (local and regional authorities, non-profit organisations, and businesses from all over the world).
WEBTV LIVE : WATCH THE DEBATES LIVE ON 1 AND 2 JULY
#WSCT - Sommet mondial Climat & Territoires: la... por Rhone-Alpes
- World Summit Climate & Territories General Declaration
- Click here to read the Press release launched on 1st July 2015
- Click here to read the Press release launched on 2nd July
- Click here to read the press release issued today by the Compact of States and Regions: "Compact of States and Regions releases first round of targets"
- Download the Summit’s videos and photos: click here