Since March 2020, the Mayor of Buenos Aires, Horacio Rodríguez Larreta and the Mayor of Bogotá, Claudia López, have been members of the Steering Committee of C40 Cities, which is the group of large cities in the world committed to climate action.
In their role as vice presidents for Latin America, both cities have worked together to actively involve the cities of the region in the development of climate policies. Within the framework of this effort, the meeting: Dialogue for climate action in Latin American cities in the COVID-19 context, was held between majors.
An exchange of visions and experiences related to the adaptation of cities to the new urban context, looking forward to the next United Nations Climate Change Conference in 2021 (COP26). Luz Amparo Medina, District Director of International Relations of the Mayor's Office of Bogotá, moderated the conversation among the participants, who presented the measures that their cities have taken to manage the COVID-19 pandemic and to counteract those of climate change in their cities. During the meeting, the importance of having spaces for discussion and networks such as C40 in promoting the climate agenda and in generating joint strategies to address the global warming crisis was highlighted.
In turn, specific conclusions were reached so that participating cities can have them in mind when implementing a green agenda:
1. It is urgent to act at this time and that is why short, medium and long-term policies must be generated to achieve results in terms of the 2030 Agenda.
2. COVID-19 is a historic opportunity to rebuild cities in a more resilient, sustainable and inclusive way.
3. Joint work is essential in order to continue advancing in the implementation of a “green agenda” in the region that promotes mobility and sustainable design, as well as the development and implementation of public policies for the use of bicycles.
This meeting, with its conclusions, is a reflection of the leadership of Bogotá and Buenos Aires in generating international spaces to promote the implementation of a climate agenda that meets the objective of a green and fair recovery in Latin American countries.
