Oggetto: partecipazione a C40 Large Cities Climate Summit, Seul, 18 e 19 maggio 2009
Che cosa è il C40.
Nel 2005, su proposta del precedente sindaco di Londra Ken Livingstone, fu stabilito il gruppo C40 con la partecipazione dei sindaci delle città più importanti del mondo. Inizialmente aderirono 18 città tra cui: Londra, New York, Tokyo e Parigi, ma in seguito il gruppo si allargò alle 40 città più grandi. Nel 2006, la Clinton Climate Initiative, un programma di Bill Clinton, è diventata il principale partner del C40. Il primo Summit si svolse a Londra (2005), il secondo a New York (2007), e questo di Seul è il terzo meeting che pertanto prevede un cadenza biennale. A Seul sono intervenute 65 città, con 24 sindaci (tra cui: Londra, Toronto, Tokyo, Seul, Copenhagen, Sydney, Addis Abeba, San Paolo, Lima, Bangkok, Città del Messico, Nuova Delhi), 13 assessori di Amministrazioni locali (tra cui: New Yort, Melbourne, Pechino, Parigi, Rio de Janeiro, Atene, Los Angeles) e 28 delegazioni. Nella sessione di apertura a Seul sono intervenuti Bill Clinton, il Primo Ministro della Corea del Sud, il sindaco di Seul, il Segretario Generale delle Nazioni Unite Ban KI- Moon, il sindaco di Londra Boris Johnson. Per l’Italia era presente, oltre alla città di Roma, anche Milano con l’Assessore all’Ambiente (MIlano comunque non è membro del C40).
Qual’è il compito del C40. Le città hanno un ruolo chiave nella lotta contro l’inquinamento ed il cambiamento climatico, in particolare per la grande responsabilità che esse hanno sulle loro cause. Infatti, le città consumano il 75% dell’energia mondiale e producono quasi l’80% delle emissioni di gas-serra, benchè occupino appena il 2% della superficie complessiva della terra. Ecco perchè risulta importante un coordinamento tra le grandi città per presentare i relativi programmi e i comunicare i risultati conseguiti per ridurre le emissioni e combattere il cambiamento climatico.
Qual’è stato il risultato del Summit. Il C40 ha sottoscritto al termine del Summit la Dichiarazione di Seul, che si riporta in allegato. La Dichiarazione aggiorna lo stato dei lavori e ribadisce l’impegno di ciascuna città firmataria sulle tematiche dell’efficienza energetica, della gestione dei rifiuti, dei trasporti, della conservazione dell’acqua, dell’illuminazione esterna. Clinton Climate Initiative ha sviluppato, insieme a Microsoft, rendendolo disponibile on-line, uno strumento di misura delle emissioni per facilitare la standardizzazione tra i vari governi locali e la quantificazione dei risultati ottenuti.
Prossimi appuntamenti. C40 sarà presente con una propria sessione di lavoro al prossimo COP15, Conference of Parties (Copenhagen, dicembre 2009, dove verrà discusso l’impegno internazionale sul clima). La Dichiarazione di Seul non potrà essere presentata come posizione al COP15, ma contiene la comunicazione chiave delle grandi città per i governi nazionali presenti al COP15 chiamati a sottoscrivere l’impegno post-Kyoto. In particolare il C40 richiama i governi centrali ad ingaggiare, rinforzare e finanziare le loro città per affrontare e combattere in modo congiunto il problema del cambiamento climatico.
Sulla base dei lavori di Seul, occorre rafforzare il rapporto internazionale sul tema dei cambiamenti climatici (anche perchè la precedente Amministrazione poco ha fatto in questo campo). Per conquistare un ruolo importante per Roma (le altre città europee e mondiali in qualche modo se lo aspettano), si propongono le seguenti azioni a breve.
Maggio 2009 – Approvazione in Consiglio del programma triennale (2009-2012) di energy management del Comune di Roma
Giugno 2009 – Organizzazione di un workshop alla Facoltà di Architettura Valle Giulia per un accordo con gli architetti italiani sulla progettazione sostenibile degli edifici. Prevista la partecipazione di Rifkin e di due grandi architetti italiani (Cucinella e Boeri). Verranno invitati 20-30 studi di progettazione provenienti da tutta Italia.
Settembre 2009 -Preparazione del documento “Politiche e Misure della Città di Roma per affrontare il tema del Cambiamento Climatico”, sulla base della Dichiarazione di Seul e del Piano Azione recentemente approvato dal Consiglio Comunale (marzo 2009). Il Piano d’azione deve essere comunque integrato con il programma di Energy Management del prossimo triennio (2009-2012).
Ottobre 2009 – Conferenza congiunta Roma-Milano per la presentazione del documento “Politiche e Misure della Città di Roma per affrontare il tema del Cambiamento Climatico” (anche Milano prevede la redazione del documento entro settembre 2009). Durante il Summit è stato ipotizzato un programma di massima con Milano.
Novembre-Dicembre 2009 – Organizzazione di un Convegno Internazionale sull’Energia con la partecipazione delle città di Londra, Parigi, Copenhagen. Durante il Summit è stato ipotizzato un programma di massima con Londra. Importante: prevedere comunque uno spazio sul clima in un eventuale incontro ufficiale con Boris Johnson (molto attivo sull’argomento).
Livio de Santoli, 20 maggio 2009
C40 Large Cities Climate Summit SEOUL
18 –21 May 2009
Seoul Declaration
We, the government leaders and delegates of C40 cities,
Having met at the third Summit of the C40 Climate Leadership Group (hereinafter “Group”) in Seoul, Sharing the view that the earth and human beings are facing serious threats caused by climate change and that it is necessary to address these challenges by
taking immediate and collective actions based on the principles of co-existence, mutual benefit, and common but differentiated responsibilities.
Recognising that at present over 50% of the world’s population lives in cities, which now account for 75% of global energy consumption and 80% of global greenhouse gas emissions and at this rate, by 2030, two thirds of the world’s population is
predicted to live in urban areas,
Further recognising that densely populated cities and their citizens are facing fundamental lifestyle changes in the areas of housing, transportation, and other services, and, at the same time, are exposed to numerous threats, including extreme
weather events, natural disasters and newly emerging diseases,
Reaffirming that cities must take responsibility for their contribution to climate change, and establish and implement immediate and practical measures for the mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions and adaptation to the threats caused by climate change
at the individual city level,
Further reaffirming that it is important for C40 cities to cooperate with all cities around the world and share best practice and technologies, and that cities in developed countries need to assist the efforts of cities in developing countries in taking actions as they are more vulnerable to climate change and have lower capacity to cope with environmental hazards,
Proclaim that:
C40 cities hereby set a common goal of transforming themselves into low-carbon cities, by cutting greenhouse gas emissions to the largest extent possible, by adapting themselves to the unavoidable climate change consequences, by making cities less vulnerable to climate change, and by enhancing cities’ capacity for remediation.
C40 cities identify their current level of carbon emissions from all city operations and stages of community development including urban planning, design and infrastructure building. Cities reduce emissions wherever possible through policies, programmes and projects and taking steps to negate the impact of remaining emissions.
C40 cities continue to catalogue and monitor their greenhouse gas emissions and implement Climate Change Action Plans. C40 cities include targets for greenhouse reductions and specific policies, projects and programmes with a schedule for implementation wherever possible. The majority of C40 cities have already completed Climate Change Action Plans. C40 cities that are reviewing existing plans or developing new Climate Change Action Plans are asked to consider the measures presented in the attached Annex: Policies and Measures to Address Climate Change. The 2011 C40 Summit will include a review of progress on the implementation of
Climate Change Action Plans.
C40 cities actively work together to accelerate delivery of low-carbon technologies, programmes and financing, including through active coordination in procurement of specific technologies through the C40 Secretariat.
C40 cities work collaboratively with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and other international bodies, national governments, non-governmental organisations, and eco-friendly businesses, including sharing
goals and experiences and, in some instances, engaging in joint projects, and providing resources. We are committed to delivering common awareness and measures outlined in the UNFCCC to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and tackle
climate change
In the run up to the COP15 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen in December 2009, the leading role of cities in the global effort against climate change must be recognised. C40 cities and all cities with shared goals, must be engaged, empowered and resourced, so that cities can work together to deliver on greenhouse gas reduction targets and stop climate change.
Cities will notify the C40 Secretariat of the names of staff in charge of climate change policies and programmes to enhance implementation of various action items set forth in this Declaration, as well as report on their established targets and achievements at the 4th C40 Summit and subsequent summits
The C40 Climate Leadership Group calls upon cities and their citizens to exert their efforts to address the threats caused by climate change for the benefit of all the people and future generations.
Adopted on May 21, 2009, at the 3rd C40 Large Cities Climate Summit, held in Seoul
Korea
Annex
Policies and Measures to Address Climate Change in Cities
To tackle climate change, cities shall adopt and implement policies and measures most suitable to their circumstances. It is important that C40 cities cooperate with all cities around the world and share best practices and technologies. The Clinton
Climate Initiative has developed a Measurement Tool that each C40 city can use to calculate a baseline inventory of current emissions. The tool will also allow cities to
track progress on their climate change goals.
In establishing their own Climate Change Action Plans, cities will give preferential consideration to the following measures proven to be effective in many cities.
1. To take a systematic and secure approach, take institutional measures such as enacting city ordinances based on technical studies, engaging in long-term planning, and establishing Climate Change Funds.
2. To avoid, mitigate, or delay the impact of climate change by reducing greenhouse
gas emissions:
i. adopt eco-friendly architectural design guidelines for construction, lighting, and insulation, etc., introduce a new and renewable energy certification, mandatory ratio of new and renewable energy for new and renovated buildings, and promote eco-friendly buildings and rationalise energy consumption by providing incentives for energy-efficient designs;
ii. establish a sustainable transport system through policies that favour public transit and encourage the use of bicycles, promote sustainable land-use and urban design, including preserving natural landscape, continuous expansion of green areas and other eco-spaces and conduct urban planning with focus on low-energy consumption;
iii. expand citywide resource reclamation and reuse facilities and promote recycling programmes, and
iv. raise the share of new and renewable energy in the total energy mix.
3. To adapt cities to the unavoidable climate change consequences, providing citizens with a secure environment and higher quality of life by conducting forecasting analysis and thus minimising the damages caused by climate change:
i. prepare for disasters by building infrastructure and establishing management plans that will protect citizens against extreme weather events;
ii. ensure networks such as disaster information systems and weather observation facilities are in place ;
iii. prepare measures to protect population groups most vulnerable to intense heat waves and improve the monitoring and control systems for communicable and other diseases;
iv. strengthen ability to anticipate changes in the urban eco-system, improve monitoring of air and other types of pollution, and enhance early warning systems;
v. improve energy demand management, such as ability to forecast and respond to fluctuations in seasonal energy demands;
vi. reflect climate change impacts, such as heat island effects, in the urban planning process; and
vii. improve water resource management.
4. To promote the engagement of city residents to address climate change
effectively:
i. provide tools for measuring individual carbon footprints and the amount of emission generated by normal, daily activities of citizens;
ii. develop and promote practical ways for a low-carbon lifestyle,
iii. support activities of civic organisations to tackle climate change.
iv. Promote environmental educational policies to prepare next generations for climate change and to think on what citizens can do to develop a sustainable lifestyle and mitigate greenhouse gas emissions


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