State Secretary at the Federal Environment Ministry Jochen Flasbarth and Environment Minister for Lower Saxony Stefan Wenzel joined Executive Director of the UN Habitat Programme Joan Clos in Hanover today to open the International Conference on Climate Action (ICCA2015). Over 300 participants from around 30 countries are expected at the 2-day event. They will exchange their experiences with municipal climate action strategies and develop solutions for reducing greenhouse gases at the local level. In the afternoon prizes will be presented to the winners of the Climate Action Award for Local Government 2015, a competition run by the German Institute for Urban Affairs (Difu).
Jochen Flasbarth: "Municipalities play a key role in reducing greenhouse gases and adapting to the consequences of climate change. ICCA is a combination of market place, showcase, learning platform and open source event. It is impressive to see the creativity and energy with which municipalities are advancing climate action." He highlighted the considerable progress that many municipalities and local initiatives have made. "We can learn a great deal from these examples."
Stefan Wenzel: "Climate change is jeopardising the foundations of life of humans and animals, exacerbating the causes of refugee movement, and ruining our planet. The technological advances of the modern era have their roots in local communities which set new ideas in motion. That is why the work of people at municipal level to combat climate change is so important, and why the international community should listen to what they have to say."
The participants will meet in workshops to discuss climate action as a driver for transformation and consider options for adaptation, financing mechanisms and the potential of multinational municipal networks. In the afternoon Parliamentary State Secretary at the Federal Environment Ministry, Rita Schwarzelühr-Sutter, will present the Difu Climate Action Award for Local Government to outstanding examples of local government climate action.
ICCA2015 will summarise its results and recommendations on the second day of the conference in the "Hanover Declaration: Local Governments Driving Transformation."