Albuquerque Commits to Cut Emissions in Half by 2030, and Accelerate a Green and Equitable Recovery from COVID-19 pandemic
Albuquerque has joined 719 cities around the world in a pledge to halve carbon emissions by 2030 and reach net-zero emissions in the 2040s or sooner – to ensure a green and equitable recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Thanks to world-leading projects such as Solar Direct and launching a new Climate Action Plan, the city is on track to deliver their fair share of action to tackle the global climate crisis.
Mayor Keller, today formally confirmed participation in the Cities Race to Zero campaign, ahead of this year’s UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow. The Race to Zero campaign aims to bring together the most powerful coalition in history of businesses, investors, cities, and regions working together to create jobs and tackle climate change.
“We know that the time to act on climate change is now,” said Mayor Tim Keller. “We’re taking big leaps toward a more sustainable city for our kids and future generations.”
Though cities are among the world’s largest emitters of greenhouse gases, accounting for more than 70% of total emissions, mayors and local leaders have emerged as global climate leaders. By signing on to the Race to Zero campaign Albuquerque pledges to endorse these principles:
- We recognize the global climate emergency;
- We are committed to keeping global heating below the 1.5°C goal of the Paris Agreement;
- We are committed to putting inclusive climate action at the center of all urban decision-making, to create thriving and equitable communities for everyone;
- We invite our partners – political leaders, CEOs, trade unions, investors, and civil society – to join us in recognizing the global climate emergency and help us deliver on science-based action to overcome it
- Adopt a science-based emission reduction target consistent with the Paris Agreement’s goal of limiting global temperature rise to 1.5°C.
- This includes achieving a fair share of 50% global reduction in emissions by 2030 and reaching zero carbon by 2050 at the latest.
- Plan and immediately begin implementing specific inclusive climate policies across buildings, transport, waste, clean energy, food, nature, and other key sectors.
“Climate change is a crisis that extends beyond municipal boundaries or national borders – and it can only be solved by the collective power of a global coalition,” said C40 Chair and Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti. “Race to Zero is already galvanizing cities around the world to raise their climate ambition, make new commitments to protect our planet, and lay the foundation for a more just, sustainable, and resilient future.”
“Across the world, city leaders are fighting the climate crisis with increasing urgency and ambition – and it’s encouraging to see even more cities officially join them in that fight,” said Michael R. Bloomberg, founder of Bloomberg Philanthropies, U.N. Global Ambassador for Race to Zero and Race to Resilience, and the U.N. Secretary-General’s Special Envoy on Climate Ambition and Solutions. “The Race to Zero is winnable, because local leaders continue to think big and get results from the bottom up. There is much more work to do – and the more that countries support their climate champions at the city, state, and company level, the more progress we can make before the world convenes for COP26 in November.”
The Cities Race to Zero, is a partnership among C40 Cities, the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy (GCoM), ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability (ICLEI), United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG), CDP, the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and the World Resources Institute (WRI). The partnership aims to mobilize 1,000 cities around a global, zero-carbon COVID-19 recovery.