Poznan 2008 - Press Release

-- Kaohsiung City Government contributes to the United Nations
Climate ChangeConference in Poland at Local Government Event --

Kaohsiung, Chinese Taipei, 03 December 2008 - Local governments
will offer nationalgovernments their support and partnership to
limit global warming at the United Nations Climate Change
Conference in Poznan, Poland from 1-12 December 2008.

Jo-Ting Huang from Chinese Taipei will represent Kaohsiung City
Government and participate in the Local Government Climate
Sessions from 9 to 11 December in Poznan, Poland. A clear message
will be send at the event: Local climate action
must become part of national climate strategies.

New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, spoke for local
governments at the 2007 UN Climate Conference in Bali:
"The world's cities, which account for 80% of humanity‘s
production of greenhouse gases, recognise that inaction is not
an option. Mayors of the world's cities are the great pragmatists
on the world’s stage. Results, not ideology, are what matter to us".

Since 2007, cities have mirrored the UN Climate Roadmap in a
process called the 'Local Government Climate Roadmap'. They have
been advocating for a comprehensive post-2012 climate agreement,
which will determine the next phase of what is currently
the Kyoto Protocol.

Cities and local governments worldwide have a strong track
record of voluntary local climate action. Nations must recognise
and build upon these local contributions via strategic
partnerships on climate with their local governments. Such
national-local climate partnerships should include empowerment,
capacity, resources and easier access to funding as well as
enabling regulations and framework conditions for
the local level.

"National governments can get substantial support in reaching
their GHG reduction targets if they empower municipalities to
act on climate. They are well advised to recognise local action
in their national climate plans", said Huang.

Local governments are committed to contribute their part: Mayors
around the world are signing the World Mayors and Local Government
Climate Agreement, committing themselves to a reduction of
greenhouse gas emissions by 60% from 1990 levels and by 80% from
1990 levels in industrialized countries.

National environment ministers heard from the Chair of the World
Mayors Council of Climate Change in 2007: "It is quite simple -
without cities and local governments,national governments will not
be able to reach their targets and meet their commitments" said
Bärbel Dieckmann, Mayor of Bonn (Germany).

As the closest government level to citizens, municipal leaders
can accelerate behavioural change within their community and can
drive and implement effective action.

Cities are home to 50% of the world’s population; where up to
80% of all energy is consumed. Cities are highly vulnerable to
the impacts of climate change, particularly the fast growing cities
in developing coun-tries. It is time to involve them.

Event Website: www.iclei.org/poznan2008