The city of Tel Aviv-Yafo has joined the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group, affirming the commitment of the city to tackling climate change.
C40 Cities connects more than 90 of the world’s greatest cities, representing 650+ million people and one quarter of the global economy. Created and led by cities, C40 is focused on tackling climate change and driving urban action that reduces greenhouse gas emissions and climate risks, while increasing the health, wellbeing and economic opportunities of urban citizens.
The entry of Tel Aviv into the C40 network of cities committed to bold action on climate change, brings the number of C40 cities to 92, representing more than 650 million people worldwide.
Tel Aviv, known as the first Hebrew City in the land of Israel, is in a critical period of urban transformation and is ready to join other C40 climate leaders by committing to the actions needed to deliver on the goals of the Paris Agreement.
In recent years, the city government has delivered a series of sustainability initiatives, including a massive tree planting scheme; the rapid expansion of green areas which today account for 20% of the city’s land area; a program to remove contaminating vehicles from the roads; and ongoing educational efforts in schools and the public sphere to educate the public on issues connected with climate change.
Tel Aviv is an active participant in the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy; 100 Resilient Cities, and have signed the Milan Urban Food Policy Pact and will host its next annual Summit in 2018.
Ron Huldai, Mayor of Tel Aviv-Yafo, said in a statement: “Since [my] taking office 19 years ago, the City of Tel Aviv-Yafo has set climate action high on its local agenda. It is my deep belief that Tel Aviv-Yafo will gain significant value from joining C40 and we hope to be able to share our own best practices with our global counterparts.”
Anne Hidalgo, Mayor of Paris and Chair of C40, said in a statement: “I am very pleased to welcome the great city of Tel Aviv into the C40 Cities network. The commitment of Mayor Huldai and the citizens of Tel Aviv to creating a sustainable, healthy and prosperous future is absolutely clear. I look forward to working with Mayor Huldai and I know they will especially share innovative practices with all the C40 cities as Tel Aviv has become one of the most important global hubs.”