SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, Dec. 3, 2015 (Gephardt Daily) – Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker has joined with leaders from around the world at the 21st United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP21) this week in Paris.
The climate conference is an event with the goal of creating a legally binding and universal agreement to curb emissions to prevent catastrophic damage to the climate.
“Supporting a global climate agreement is critically important for cities around the world,” Becker said. “Salt Lake City is aggressively preparing for future climate challenges, to be a resilient community with a high quality of life.
“This work is vitally important, and must be supported by both national and international action.”
Under Becker’s leadership, Salt Lake City has joined the Compact of Mayors (www.compactofmayors.org) and the Mayors National Climate Action Agenda (#ClimateMayors), two national initiatives to push for bold climate action and showcase the innovative work being done in cities and communities across the country to combat climate change.
The City has also set a community carbon reduction goal of 20 percent by 2020 and 80 percent by 2050.
This Friday, Becker will take part in the Climate Summit for Local Leaders (#Cities4Climate) at the Paris City Hall with Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo and former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg. French President François Hollande will also be addressing the group.
The summit is a historic global gathering of mayors, governors and local leaders aiming to bring a significant contribution to the COP21 and highlight their role in combating climate change.
While in Paris, Becker will also showcase Salt Lake City’s climate action leadership at two separate events, the “Cities & Regions Leading from the Front” at Paris City Hall on Dec. 5 and a Leader’s Circle event on Dec. 7.
For more information on Salt Lake City’s climate leadership and the work done under Becker’s administration to build this community’s climate change resilience, mitigation and adaptation, visit www.SLCgreen.com. COP21 developments can be followed at #COP21.
