Catalonia favors regional governments for battle against climate change at UN HQ

Territory and sustainability minister Damià Calvet has highlighted the role of regional governments in the battle against climate change. 

He spoke at a round table at the UN headquarters on Sunday, ahead of the United Nations Climate Action Summit 2019, recalling that “state governments cannot ignore the potential regional governments have for climate change.” 

He reiterated public transport, water management, waste management, space planning and the relationship between cities and territory as matters that need addressing.

He also praised the Catalan Climate Change Law, passed by Catalan parliament in July 2017 but partly deemed unconstitutional by Spain’s judiciary. Calvet regarded the law as a “turning point” with the “ambition” necessary to fight climate change.

He outlined some of its various objectives, including “achieving carbon neutrality and a totally renewable electricity production model by 2050”, and explained the steps taken so far by the government against the crisis such as declaring the climate change emergency and the commitment to the “decarbonisation of transport.”

Colau heads to big apple 

Meanwhile, Barcelona Mayor Ada Colau jets off to New York on Monday in time for the inauguration of the UN climate change summit.

The summit will bring together heads of government states to strengthen the fight against climate change, monitor the 2030 world agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals.

Colau will attend the summit’s inauguration on Tuesday, where representatives of the world’s big cities will discuss the challenges, objectives and proposals at hand. 

Colau will be accompanied by Socialist Laia Bonet, who is currently deputy mayor of the 2030 Agenda (a global initiative for a more sustainable future). Bonet will exchange strategies and form new partnerships with other international cities. 

Bonet will attend conferences regarding the achievement of the anti-climate change Sustainable Development Goals, and at the Cervantes Institute in New York, and will present the focus and future actions of municipal governments regarding the 17 objectives and milestones of the global agenda, as organized by the Spanish government.

This year Barcelona has been invited in recognition of policies that the city has implemented to fight against global warming and pollution.