Sustainable LA Grand Challenge participates in international mayors’ forum on climate

August 17, 2020

The UCLA Sustainable LA Grand Challenge participated today as a strategic partner in the Second Forum of CC35, a climate coalition of mayors from 35 capitals across the Americas.

The purpose of the forum­—held virtually due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic—was to strengthen the role of local environmental authorities in the global climate arena and to discuss and construct a post COVID-19 Green New Deal among the capital cities represented. 

Santiago, Chile skyline. Santiago hosted the 2nd CC35 Forum.
The city of Santiago, Chile, hosted the CC35 Forum. Photo Source: Caio Silva on Unsplash

“Today, the world is facing a new global crisis with COVID-19 but I am confident that we will create a post-COVID sustainable world that is more equitable, livable, clean and healthy,” said Cassie Rauser, executive director of the Sustainable LA Grand Challenge, in her remarks. 

The CC35 was created under the Local Governments and Municipal Authorities (LGMA) Constituency, a body that has been represented at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change since 1995. CC35 member mayors are committed to reducing greenhouse gases, increasing the resilience of cities in the region, and leading the climate agenda.

The City of Los Angeles participated as a guest city in the forum, as its Green New Deal inspired the pLAn Americas—an aspirational vision to build collective action and raise ambition across Latin American and the Caribbean region.  The plan envisions partnerships that will build the capacity and facilitate the transfer of knowledge to local governments and municipal authorities across the hemisphere. Recognizing the climate leadership of the City and County of Los Angeles, and the State of California, organizers hope to build momentum for collective climate action as part of a green recovery and work toward a roadmap for carbon neutrality.

View the Forum agenda.