News

Climate Roadmap Symposium, Geneva

14 October 2008

The local governments debate on how to influence a post-Kyoto agreement took an important step last October. Between 12th and 14th, the Climate Roadmap Symposium took place in Switzerland based on a joint initiative from ICLEI and the City of Geneva, and supported by international organizations such as C40. Forty local government leaders and experts gathered to establish an action plan for the ongoing climate negotiations, including representatives from Sao Paulo, member of the C-40 Steering Committee.

The main objective of the Symposium was to outline a common position of local governments in order to influence decision-making in COP-15 (Copenhagen). After two days of discussions, the Symposium participants identified key elements for a draft decision to be adopted by COP-15, where the Parties to the Convention recognize the importance of the role played by local governments in fighting climate change. Participants also suggested a number of issues which should be highlighted in a declaration by local governments. Both the draft decision and the declaration will be the object of further discussions in COP-14, to be held in Poznan, Poland, next December.

Further information: www.iclei.org