Report on the Mayor's mission to France - Montréal is committed to fighting against climate change and strengthens international partnerships

MONTRÉAL, Dec. 8, 2015 /CNW Telbec/ - At the end of his mission to France and as part of the 21st United Nations Conference on Climate Change (COP 21), the Mayor of Montréal and President of the Montréal Metropolitan Community, the Honourable Denis Coderre, announced that Montréal has endorsed the Paris City Hall Declaration of the Climate Summit for local leaders. Through this declaration, the local elected and regional officials representing the five continents gathered at Paris City Hall on Friday, December 4, agreed to collectively fight against climate change.

"Montréal takes on a leadership role on the international scene in the fight against climate change, and we plan to work closely with our partners in a context where cities and metropolises are developing a new urban agenda to meet local and global challenges," said Mayor Coderre. "More than ever, cities and metropolises have a key role to play in the fight against climate change, and the goals that were set by national governments will not be met without their contribution.  Cities are an integral part of the solution because they can undertake concrete actions that will have impacts and enable us to achieve our national goals," added Mayor Coderre.

During the Summit, Mayor Coderre called for the mobilization of cities as key players in the fight against climate change. He emphasized that the initiatives undertaken by each city, including Montréal, will make a difference in terms of climate change.   

This Declaration was presented on December 5 at COP 21, as part of Action Day, and emphasized the commitment of local governments, among others. 

The Paris City Hall Declaration of the Climate Summit for local leaders: Concrete commitments
Through the Paris City Hall Declaration of the Climate Summit for local leaders, the mayors, governors, presidents of regions and other local authorities agree collectively to: promote and exceed, to the extent of their authority, the objectives of the 2015 Paris Agreement, which was negotiated at COP 21; produce and implement resilience strategies and action plans to adapt to an increasing number of disasters related to climate change, by the year 2020; reduce annual greenhouse gas emissions by 3.7 gigatonnes, by the year 2030; support transition to 100% renewable energy within their respective territories, by 2050.

Consult the Declaration of the Summit of local elected officials on climate at: http://www.euractiv.fr/sites/default/files/_151203_climate_summit_final_declaration_fr_uk.pdf

Canadian concerted action
The Mayor of Montréal ensured concerted action with the Government of Canada, Government of Québec, and with other Canadian cities, in a context where Canada is committed to fighting against climate change. He also discussed COP 21 issues with the Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau, and with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada and President of the Cabinet Committee in Environment, Climate Change and Energy, Stéphane Dion, and with the Minister of Environment and Climate change, Catherine McKenna. He also had discussions with Québec Premier, Philippe Couillard, and with the Québec Minister of Sustainable Development, the Environment and the Fight against Climate Change, David Heurtel.

Montréal held a meeting with the Canadian mayors attending COP 21, including the mayors of Toronto and Vancouver,  John Tory and Gregor Robertson, the President of the Union des municipalités du Québec, Suzanne Roy, and the Mayor of Bromont, Pauline Quinlan, as well as representatives of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities.

Montréal part of global networks

The Mayor of Montréal, who was already ambassador of METROPOLIS for climate change, was appointed President of that organization. Created in 1985, METROPOLIS is the main international organization of cities and metropolitan regions with more than one million inhabitants and is 140 members-strong. It is an international forum where large cities gather to discuss common issues.

The announcement was made as part of the World Council of the United Cities and Local Governments, whose meeting highlighted the progress of the work of the association to make the political voice of local governments heard on the international scene, especially the adoption of the United Nations 17 new sustainable development objectives. In this context of preparing the United Nations Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development (Habitat III), which will be held in 2016, in Quito, Ecuador, the Mayor presented to the World Council the results of the Preparatory Thematic Conference, which was held in Montréal last October, and led to the Montréal Declaration on Metropolitan Areas.

"I am pleased to be the new President of METROPOLIS. This new presidency will ensure continuity, because the association was created in Montréal 30 years ago and included 14 other cities," said Mayor Coderre. "Today, international politics is no longer centered on relations between states. In fact, an increasing number of cities play an important role on the international scene. As such, I hope that METROPOLIS will become a major player as regards to the fight against climate change, Living Together, governance, independence of cities and urban development," concluded Mayor Coderre.

As part of the Fonds mondial de développement des villes (FMDV), the Mayor took on the initiative to make it easier for cities and local governments to access funding sources and fight against climate change.

Mayor Coderre took part in activities led by other networks of cities and local governments involved in climate change and urban issues, including C-40, Compact of Mayors, ICLEI-International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives, as well as the activities of the United Nations Secretary-General's Special Envoy for Cities and Climate Change, Michael Bloomberg. Mayor Coderre also had discussions with the United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-Moon.

Mayor Coderre had bilateral meetings with the mayors of several cities interested in developing close relationships with Montréal, including Barcelona, Rio de Janeiro, Mexico, Johannesburg, Los Angeles, Brussels, Dakar, Seoul and Libreville.

Solidarity with Paris

Mayor Coderre expressed the support and solidarity of Montrealers to the Mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, following the attacks of November 13. Mayor Coderre, together with French Prime Minister Manuel Valls, and Anne Hidalgo, as well as Prime Minister Trudeau and Premier Couillard, took part in the ceremonies to honour the victims of the attacks.

Montréal-Lyon achievements

Building on the relationship of friendship and cooperation between Montréal and Lyon which was initiated in 1979, Mayor Coderre made a two-day visit of the metropolis of the Rhônes-Alpes region, during which he worked with the Mayor of Lyon, Gérard Collomb, to strengthen relations between the two cities.

The mayors emphasized the creation of a new Air Canada direct air service between the two cities, and announced with Équipe Spectra that Lyon will be the city to be honoured at the 2017 edition of the Festival Montréal en Lumières.

Mayor Coderre took part in the Entretiens Jacques Cartier in the company of the former Premier of Québec, Pierre-Marc Johnson, and the Québec Minister of Sustainable Development, the Environment and the Fight against Climate Change, David Heurtel. A joint interview took place with the two mayors who discussed the challenges faced by city leaders. 

Mayor Coderre, in association with Montréal International, also took part in the launching of the Greater Montréal Ambassadors Network, in Lyon.

Economic development

In Paris and in Lyon, Mayor Coderre discussed economic development issues with authorities and businesses wishing to engage in new opportunities in various fields.

In Lyon, technologies and new types of cooperation between start-ups were discussed.

As part of a business meeting in Paris with the Mayor, the firm Derichebourg Environnement announced that it will establish its North American headquarters in Montréal. The firm, which is involved in the management of solid waste, expects to create 500 jobs in Québec, over five years.

Francophonie

The Mayor took advantage of his visit to Paris to meet with the Secretary-General of the International Organization of the Francophonie, Michaëlle Jean. Both agreed to continue to work together on priority issues, including "Living Together".

The Mayor also met with the former Secretary-General of the International Organization of the Francophonie, Abou Diouf, who discussed international political issues especially within the Francophonie.

Promoting Montréal

During his visit, Mayor Coderre promoted the actions and leadership of Montréal at several interviews led by international media, including I-Télé, Journal du Dimanche, France 24, and Euronews.

SOURCE Ville de Montréal - Cabinet du maire et du comité exécutif

For further information: Catherine Maurice, Attachée de presse, Cabinet du maire et du comité exécutif, 514 346-7598; Information: François GoneauRelationniste, Service des communications, 514 868-5859