- Global mayors to convene to highlight crucial role of megacities in tackling climate change and reducing climate risks

NEW YORK, March 12, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, Chair of the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group (C40) and Johannesburg Mayor Parks Tau announced today that the city of Johannesburg, South Africa has been selected to host the fifth biennial C40 Cities Mayors Summit in February 2014. During the summit, hundreds of urban and climate change leaders from around the world will join mayors from the world's largest cities for three days to advance urban solutions to combat the impacts of global climate change.  

"Cities around the world, particularly C40 cities, are taking meaningful actions that have quantifiable outcomes.  As a result – as our research shows - we are having a real impact combating the impacts of global climate change," said C40 Chair, Mayor of New York City Michael R. Bloomberg. "While nations and international bodies meet to talk about these issues, the C40 Cities Mayors Summit is focused on the concrete actions we can take to protect the planet and grow our cities."

The event will feature a series of roundtable discussions and working sessions that will bring together C40 mayors, their staffs and technical experts to discuss city driven climate actions and their impacts. The discussions will be data-driven and outcome focused.

"It will be a historic moment for Johannesburg – but also for South Africa and the African continent. Hosting the event is a clear recognition of the growing role that Africa, and the global South, can play to find solutions to the most pressing issues facing our globe," says Mayor of Johannesburg Councilor Mpho Parks Tau.  "Climate change is not an issue that affects only the industrialised countries of the northern hemisphere. It is an everyday reality for the people of Africa in rapidly expanding cities, as well as rural areas faced by the consequences of dramatic changes in weather patterns, resulting in threats to crops and livestock and their ability to survive."

The Role of Cities:
While cities only occupy 2% of the Earth's landmass, they contain over 50% of its population, use two-thirds of its energy and generate over 70% of its carbon emissions. Combined, C40 cities have the potential to reduce future emissions by up to 1.3 billion tons by 2030. The C40 Mayors Summit will focus on how cities are developing and implementing innovative solutions to some of the most pressing climate and resource issues facing the world today. The Summit will highlight a wide range of successful on-going projects from around the world, including building efficiency standards, sustainable transport measures, delta cities partnerships, and other green growth practices and programmes. It will enable mayors to share challenges and successes, and identify opportunities for collaboration - all with the goal of making measurable advances on projects in cities that achieve meaningful reductions in emissions.  

EVENT INFORMATION

When: February 4-6, 2014

Where: The Summit will take place in Johannesburg, South Africa.  

Credentials: Journalists interested in covering the C40 Mayors Summit will need to complete a registration form to receive credentials.  Media will be contacted when the registration period begins.  

Online Resources
To get the most up to date information on how the conference is taking shape, the agenda and guest speakers we recommend the following resources:

• Website: Visit www.c40.org. 
• Twitter: Follow us at @C40cities
• Facebook: Like us on Facebook

About C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group (C40)
The C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group (C40) is a network of large and engaged cities from around the world committed to implementing meaningful and sustainable climate-related actions locally that will help address climate change globally. C40 was established in 2005 and expanded via a partnership in 2006 with President William J. Clinton's Climate Initiative (CCI). The current chair of the C40 is New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg. To learn more about the work of C40 and our Cities, please visit www.c40.org, follow us on Twitter @c40cities and like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/C40Cities.

SOURCE C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group (C40)