Editor's Note: On November 15th-18th 2012, over one-thousand students from across the United States converged upon New Brunswick, New Jersey for the annual Rutgers Model United Nations (RUMUN) conference. The C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group was part of their simulation.
From intelligent traffic management to tech-savvy crime fighting, cities are on the cutting edge of smart growth. The latest issue of Cities Today magazine, a global publication designed for senior policymakers in urban development, features examples of “intelligent” systems throughout the world’s cities.
Today 15 C40 cities are gathering in Copenhagen for the first workshop of the C40 Green Growth Network. Hosted by the City of Copenhagen, who became chair of the Network earlier this year, the event comprises three days of focused presentations on key aspects of green growth, inputs from knowledge partners, as well as dialogue and sharing of best practice among participating cities.
Last week Mayor of Beijing, Mr. Guo Jinlong -- a fellow C40 Mayor -- and I signed a mutual agreement between our two cities to collaborate in the areas of sustainable solutions, energy efficiency, water, culture, health and science. The agreement is not only a sign of the good relations between China and Denmark. It is also clear evidence of our shared interests in the area of sustainable urban development.
The global transition to a green economy is at the top of the international agenda. Taking a look at the negotiations leading up to the Rio +20 summit, there is a growing understanding that green growth is a key concept in the pursuit of a common sustainable and economically viable future. I believe that cities play a crucial role in making this transition. Cities control significant environmental, economic and social assets. And in cities we are often able to decide on more ambitious green policies than our national governments.
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