Energy cities from around the world signed a pact Thursday in Calgary, committing themselves to bold climate-change targets.
Nine international energy cities and members of the World Energy Cities Partnership signed the agreement at the Fairmont Palliser Hotel’s Alberta Room, marking a commitment to greenhouse gas-reduction targets for municipal communities, in advance of the international Copenhagen climate-change conference.
The agreement calls for policies, plans and operations that reduce greenhouse emissions by a minimum of 20 per cent by 2020 and 80 per cent by 2050.
Calgary Mayor Dave Bronconnier said he believes the myriad environmental projects the city has undertaken has positioned the city well for the future, and that it’s important for energy cities to lead the way in climate-change targets.
“We get it. We understand the importance of the energy industry, and we also understand the importance of a strong, healthy environment — they are not independent, we are interdependent on one another.”
The chief administrative officer of Houston, Texas, Anthony W. Hall Jr., agreed.
“(The accord) represents the recognition on the part of energy cities that there’s a responsibility to be leaders in developing sustainability for our planet.”
