Cities call for more resources to fight climate change

Barcelona, Milan, Athens and Berlin on Wednesday called for more resources and powers from their state authorities and the European Union in order to combat climate change.

In a summit in Barcelona of the C40, the global network of cities for the environment, the mayors of the four urban centers pointed to the "pioneering" role of cities in fighting climate change.

Barcelona mayor, Ada Colau, praised the fact that the Spanish government's future climate change law foresees a ban on the sale and registration of diesel, petrol and hybrid vehicles from 2040.

In fact, Colau suggested stopping subsidies for diesel vehicles "today," and called on political parties to put forward "specific action" on the issue in the upcoming European election.

Colau: cities leading the fight against climate change

Colau also reprimanded state authorities and the European Commission for not being at "the same level" as cities, even though it falls to them to lead the fight against climate change.

"We can wait no longer, the lives of the citizens is at stake," she said, adding that state authorities must understand that cities are "fundamental allies" because they are the "new global actors."