As the United Nations Conference on climate COP26 unfolds, the mayor of Bogotá, Claudia López has been adamant on her position towards the escalating climate crisis. “We were with the Colombian delegation and with the delegations of several capital cities around the world at the COP26 Conference,“ stated the mayor. “The idea is to unite all the world-leaders behind a common goal and take the climate emergency seriously. We need to table short, medium and long-term climate action plans, so as to prevent an otherwise avoidable disaster.”
Upon her arrival in Glasgow, Scotland, Mayor López participated in the panel 'Our Last, Big Chance: Why our future depends on action taken today in the world's cities'. The mayor took to the international stage to unveil her vision of concrete action being taken by her administration to help address the now global climate crisis.
Mayor López indicated that the capital of the Republic “has recognized this emergency, we have listened to the scientific community and we have taken steps and set down policies based on scientific knowledge (..) that is why we set specific goals and actions in order to advance our program of decarbonization, that is the first point.”
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Claudia López also thanked the C40 Cities group and Bloomberg Philanthropies for helping Bogotá to define a sustainable Climate Action Plan. Regarding the plan for an improved waste management, the Mayor reported that Stockholm, the first green capital in Europe, will be a key ally for the consolidation of recycling and the transformation of organic waste into sustainable energy.
Eric Garcetti, president of C40 Cities was full of praise for the various mayors of Bogotá, Paris, Stockholm and Phoenix (Arizona, USA). He described them as 'champions' for their sustained work in the Race to Zero initiative, a global campaign that brings together the various businesses, cities, regions and investors. The Race to Zero initiative provides a way to promote a healthy, resilient and carbon-free recovery that prevents future threats, creates direct jobs, and unlocks inclusive and sustainable growth.
The panel in which the mayor participated was also attended by Anne Hidalgo, Mayor of Paris; Kate Gallego, Mayor of Phoenix; and Mohammad Atiqul Islam, Mayor of North Dhaka (Bangladesh).
The Launch of the Colombian Pavillion at COP26
Within the framework of COP26, the mayor participated in the launch of the Colombia Pavilion of # COP26, in which the 'Long-Term Climate Strategy' was announced. This only helps to re-affirm the country's reason of being carbon neutral in 2050. Everything that the mayor has said in Glasgow has rung true: mitigating the climate crisis is everyone's commitment and that Bogotá is leading by example.
Mayor López also indicated that Bogotá is actively contributing to the country's reduction of emissions through the ‘Climate Action Plan.’ This plan sets down short and long-term investments to improve air-quality, create sustainable energy, and mitigate any and all challenges we face in terms of climate crisis. The mayor emphasizes the role that we must play, "we are an example of sustainable transport, together with Chile we have the largest electric fleet in Latin America."
The mayor then went on to say that “Bogotá has garnered a lot of recognition, so it has a lot to prove. Its commitment to the transformation of public transport from a diesel bus system to a multi-modal system of metro, regio-tram, cable-cars, bike paths, and of course, a fleet of electric buses like the ones that have made our green corridor so admired around the world,"
Meeting with the Mayor of Paris Anne Hidalgo
In the development of their agenda in the Scottish city of Glasgow, the Mayor of Bogotá, Claudia López sat down with her Parisienne counterpart, Anne Hidalgo. The leaders had much to discuss as female mayors of such imposing cities. They took the time to strengthen the relationship between the two cities and make evident the impact of the 'Letter of Intent' signed last September .
Through this document, steps have been taken to ensure the exchange of ideas and good practices around the concept of a ‘City of Proximity.’ With the specific objective of being applied in the Land Use Plan, which will govern in Bogotá for the next 14 years.
It is worth noting that Bogotá -- as of the beginning of 2021 -- has established its Climate Action Plan. As such, it represents an ambitious, 30-year roadmap, which will allow the city to meet the goals of mitigating and adaptating to climate change. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 15% by 2024, by 50% by 2030, and achieving carbon neutrality by 2050 thus increasing the resilience of current and future changes in the climate.
Thanks to the co-ordinated work between the French Embassy in Colombia and the District of Bogotá, an agreement between the two cities has been met. Both parties agree to work together for the benefit of urban and sustainable development. Collaborations between cities like this offers an innovative way to promote development
The mayor added that they also counted on the support of Mike Bloomberg who backs the C40 group around the world that are working hard with very solid climate action plans.
The Mayor's Dialogue with Norman Foster and John Kerry
The Mayor of Bogotá, Claudia López played an important role at the conclusion of the dialogue held by special environmental envoy a former United States Secretary of State John Kerry; prestigious architect and urban planner, Norman Foster; alongside mayors from all over the world, partners in C40 Cities.
“Every time we have a crisis, like a pandemic or climate change, cities get stronger, change and re-invent themselves. We are here and we have committed 1,049 local governments in the Race To Zero (zero carbon emissions by 2050). That is the largest commitment ever made in a COP (Climate Change Summit),” expressed the mayor before the local leaders at The Banqueting Hall of the Glasgow City Chambers.
The Mayor of Bogotá, referred to the experience of the capital of Colombia and its District Care System, and indicated again that women with their poverty "cannot continue to be the social security of informality" and assured that "the work of unpaid care of women is what supports, what sustains our cities.”
“The world understands that cities like Bogotá and the developing world have to exercise social justice and environmental justice at the same time, not one thing at the expense of the other”, Mayor López went on to say “They loved our District Care System, that we have developing perspective on gender, that we have the social infrastructure to provide education, child care, care for the elderly, care for people with disabilities and that we relieve women of that care overload. This burden of unpaid care work falls squarely on their shoulders, through the District Care system -- which has been very well received -- has received several contributions, votes of confidence and international co-operation to continue taking them forward”.
Mayor Claudia López was full of praise for the tireless efforts made on behalf of each mayor from the various cities in attendance. She applauded the fundamental role that each mayor has had to play, during each stage of an unpredictable, and seemingly endless pandemic. "We have high hopes, and we should be hopeful at this time. Mayors around the world are the leaders of hope at this time! But we must work together to achieve the goals in time, even though we have limited resources."
Launch of the ‘Urban Initiatives Council’
The Mayor of Bogotá, Claudia López, participated in the launch of the ‘Council of Urban Initiatives’ an initiative organized by UN Habitat, LSE Cities and the Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose of University College London.
The council's inaugural session underscored the importance of further integration of cities into global debates on how to re-orient economies and societies towards stronger social goals.
This council is made up of an international group of 18 mayors of which the mayor Claudia López is a part, also by professionals, activists and academics, and was formed in response to the call of the UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, to use the pandemic of COVID-19 as an opportunity to reflect and reestablish how to live, interact and rebuild cities.
In her speech, the Mayor of Bogotá spoke about the ‘District Care System’ as the social mark of the first female mayor of Bogotá. “I hope this District Care System is our main legacy, the hallmark of the first female mayor in a city like Bogotá, but most importantly, it is part of building an inclusive city, a city that overcomes machismo as a cultural base. of our relationships”.
Agenda in Spain
The Mayor of Bogotá continued her international agenda in the cities of Madrid and Barcelona, in Spain, where she met with important international allies, such as the Spanish Investment and Export Agency (ICEX); the Union of Ibero-American Capital Cities (UCCI); the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID) and the United Cities and Local Governments Network (UCLG).
