The Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy was presented as an opportunity for local authorities in the fight against climate change during the National Congress of Municipalities, organized by the Colombian Federation of Municipalities, held between February 25 and 28 in Cartagena de Indias (Colombia). During the opening ceremony, the Ambassador of the European Union in Colombia, Patricia Llombart, emphasized the importance of the participation of Colombian cities in environmental issues. “How can we not talk about sustainable development in Colombia?” reflected the ambassador. The impact of the speech was felt in the growing interest in the Covenant by the mayors present at the event.
In addition to its presence in the official program of the event, the Covenant shared the services it can offer to interested municipalities and also showcased them to the general public through a stand set up for the event. More than forty representatives and authorities from local governments expressed interest in committing to the Global Covenant of Mayors during the event and are expected to confirm this commitment in the coming days. This could enhance the reach of the initiative and contribute significantly to climate actions in Colombia. Until the beginning of the event, the Global Covenant of Mayors had fifteen signing municipalities in the country.
The opening ceremony was attended by: William Dau Chamatt, Mayor of Cartagena; Vicente Antonio Blel Scaff, Governor of the Department of Bolívar; Jessica Faieta, Resident Representative of UNDP in Colombia; Karen Abudinen Abuchaibe, High Presidential Counselor for the Regions; Alicia Arango Olmos, Minister of the Interior; Jairo Raúl Clopatofsky Ghisays, Advisor for the Participation of Persons with Disabilities; Oscar Atehortua Duque, Director General of the National Police; Gilberto Toro, Executive Director of the Colombian Federation of Municipalities.
Global Covenant of Mayors Stand during the Event
The Event
The National Congress of Municipalities is the largest space for dialogue among local governments in Colombia. It serves as a platform for institutional exchanges with the national government and other public and private initiatives. The event is organized by the Colombian Federation of Municipalities, which acts as the National Coordinator of the Global Covenant for Climate and Energy in the country’s National Advisory Committee.
International Urban Cooperation Program – Latin America and the Caribbean
The Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy is part of the International Urban Cooperation Program (IUC), which supports cities in different regions of the world to connect and share solutions to common challenges for sustainable urban development, within the scope of the New Urban Agenda and the fight against climate change.
