Mayor Vrbanovic signs action statement at Climate Summit of the Americas

Kitchener Mayor Berry Vrbanovic joined municipal, provincial, and state leaders from across Canada and the Americas for the official signing of the Climate Action Statement at the Climate Summit of the Americas conference on Thursday.

The summit was hosted by the Province of Ontario’s Ministry of the Environment.

The signing comes in advance of the UN Climate Change Conference in Paris in December. It calls on national governments, including Canada, to finalize a global agreement by the end of 2015.

Signatories also committed to undertake or participate in one or more of the following actions:

1. Set greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) emission reduction targets to limit the global increase in temperature to below two degrees Celsius

2. To join the Compact of States/Provinces and Compact of Mayors to publically report on emissions targets

3. To join the Under 2 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)

4. To support carbon pricing to reduce emissions

“With direct or indirect influence on over 40% of Canada’s GHG emissions, local governments are strategically positioned to lead and implement climate change initiatives in meaningful ways that will have a direct and positive impact on our communities,” said Mayor Vrbanovic.

“Combined, our efforts can have a significant impact provincially and nationally. We are calling on national and provincial leaders to build on our actions – to demonstrate the leadership required to affect significant, long term climate change and to partner with municipalities in these efforts.”