Ekurhuleni has pledged to take action against climate change ahead of the UN climate conference in Paris. Mondli Gungubele, the Ekurhuleni mayor, has committed to the Compact of Mayors, a global coalition of city leaders dedicated to reducing their city’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The mayor signed the Compact of Mayors which will help make Ekurhuleni communities more resilient to climate change and regularly report their progress publicly. By participating in the Compact of Mayors, Gungubele will reinforce his commitment to climate action by taking stock of greenhouse emissions and the current effects of climate change in the city, creating an action plan including clear and ambitious reduction targets, and implementing a common system of measuring those emissions and monitoring climate risks. “The Compact of Mayors reinforces our city’s commitment to its people and its businesses,” said Gungubele. “By committing to the Compact of Mayors, we are continuing in our work to make Ekurhuleni a place where people want to live and where businesses want to invest. The actions we take at a local level will have a global impact; and by improving our city, we will be helping create a better world for today’s urban citizens and generations to come.” For its part, Ekurhuleni will conduct an inventory of greenhouse gas emissions in the city, develop emissions targets and draw up an action plan to mitigate climate change. “The Compact of Mayors reflects the commitment that cities are making to reduce carbon emissions and the crucial role they play in confronting climate change,” said Michael Bloomberg, one of the initiative’s key founders. “The more cities that take part in the compact, the bigger impact it will have. I applaud all of the mayors who have joined, and look forward to welcoming more cities into our growing coalition.” Visit www.compactofmayors.org to learn more about the Compact of Mayors.
