(07 May 2019) — Mayors and leaders of 210 cities across Europe, representing 62 million citizens have today urged the European Council and Member States to step up the EU’s climate commitments, to show global leadership and drive ambition to make rapid progress in the implementation of the Paris Agreement. Their demands include:
- Develop a just and inclusive European long-term climate strategy that enhances resilience and ensures emissions in the EU peak by 2020, more than halve by 2030 and reach net-zero by 2050;
- Enhance the 2030 EU climate and energy targets and Nationally Determined Contribution to ensure a resilient, rapid and just energy transition in line with the above goals;
- Align the next EU long-term budget with this strategy, remove fossil fuel subsidies and mainstream climate action as a priority across all funding programmes; and
- Commit all member states to binding net-zero emissions reduction targets and the above goals.
The open letter, signed by leaders of cities in 21 EU member states and 7 neighboring countries was published ahead of the Future of Europe conference to take place in Sibiu, Romania on 9th May 2019.
