At the launch of our new Net Zero pledge in December (watch the full launch here), 41 local leaders committed to reach Net Zero faster than the government to avoid the most dangerous impacts of the climate emergency.
It’s only been a month and nine more local authorities have joined them to take the number to 50. These leaders represent more than 22 million people, one third of the UK population.
We’re delighted to welcome the following local leaders who have signed up to UK100’s Net Zero Pledge on behalf of their local authorities.
- Cllr Tim Swift, Leader of Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council
- Cllr Ric Metcalfe, City of Lincoln Council
- Cllr Keith Aspden, Leader of City of York Council
- Cllr David Hitchiner, Leader of Herefordshire Council
- Cllr Erica Lewis, Leader of Lancaster City Council
- Cllr Donald Davies, Leader of North Somerset Council
- Cllr John Holdich, Leader of Peterborough City Council
- Cllr Peter Nutting, Leader of Shropshire Council
- Cllr Giles Archibald, Leader of South Lakeland District Council
If your local authority would like to sign UK100’s Net Zero pledge, please contact me via membership@uk100.org.
Alok Sharma becomes full-time COP26 President
This month Alok Sharma was appointed as full-time COP26 President while retaining his position in the cabinet. We welcome this announcement and congratulate Mr Sharma on this appointment. We’re positive that more time spent in this role will enable greater climate action and ambition.
We hope to see local government placed at the heart of the COP26 agenda, so that national Net Zero targets can be met in our communities with the support and involvement of local leaders. To do this, we stand ready to engage with the UK government to ensure that local leaders are fully involved and in making sure the events in Glasgow later this year have a lasting legacy in the UK and globally.
The US rejoins the Paris Agreement
Shortly after his inauguration, President Joe Biden signed an executive order for the US to rejoin the Paris Agreement. It’s fantastic to see that tackling the climate emergency is such a priority for the new president.
It was brilliant to see 38 mayors from across the US signing a letter to the President with priorities to develop multi-level climate action in the first 100 days of the Biden-Harris administration.
We are looking forward to the involvement of global cities in the Climate Ambition Summit hosted by President Biden on Earth Day, 22 April.
Opportunities to participate in COP26
This month, preparations have ramped up for COP26 in November. As the UK is hosting the summit, there are ample opportunities to get involved. Here are the latest opportunities; please feel free to share this with your communities and residents so that we can all contribute to making COP26 inclusive and successful.
Glasgow City Council is looking for friendly volunteers to represent Glasgow and the UK to delegates from across the globe. Roles are varied and include helping with events, transport hubs and accommodation in Glasgow during 1-12 November. For more information and to apply, click here.
Businesses, civil society, academia, trade unions, indigenous groups, young people and others are invited to apply for event spaces at the summit. This includes opportunities such as hosting of events, creative installations, and exhibition space, in both the venue for official delegates (Blue Zone) and public exhibition centre (Green Zone). More information can be found here.
If you know any under-16-year-olds who are keen to show their creative side, get them to take part in the UN COP26 and WWF-run art competition, running until 28 February. Entrants are encouraged to create a piece of art that shows what they want our planet to look like in the future. Click this link for further details.
