Dear C40 Mayors:

Sao Paulo is determined to fight and adapt to climate change. Our struggle has been recognized by C40 and hence this year we have the privilege of hosting the IV C40 Climate Summit.

C40 Sao Paulo Summit is an unique occasion for cities to present their commitment to addressing climate change and the strengthening of cooperation among the C40 network. Our city has been working hard to develop creative solutions in response to the challenges imposed by climate change. The Municipality has established a target of 30% GHG emissions reduction by 2012. In order to achieve it, Sao Paulo has also created the Municipal Committee on Climate Change that is currently undertaking a detailed study to identify key areas to act and proposing a new action plan, which will be brought to the next Summit as part of our contribution.

Together we will make the Sao Paulo Summit a memorable and decisive event in our path to a smarter and more sustainable city. We have high expectations for the Summit this year and we are very optimistic about its upcoming results. We hope and trust that the Sao Paulo Summit will inspire our cities and citizens to engage even more to achieve economic prosperity and better quality of life.

Our 11 million citizens are eager to welcome you with arms wide open this coming May. So are we.

Gilberto Kassab
Sao Paulo City Mayor

 

 

Together with Mayor Kassab of São Paulo, I want to welcome you to the official website for the 2011 C40 Large Cities Climate Summit.

Over the past six years, C40 Summits have brought together mayors of the world’s largest cities to share information on their respective experiences in dealing with climate change. This is our fourth Summit, the first to be hosted in the Southern Hemisphere, and my first as Chair of the C40.

For the first time in history, cities are home to more than half of the world’s population, and together account for more than 80% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions. The Summit in São Paulo will provide us with an excellent opportunity to explore and exchange new ideas and initiatives, and to discuss new partnerships among mayors and governors that can address climate change and promote sustainability. This year’s Summit will have a renewed focus on sharing best practices and holding ourselves accountable as we work toward our common goals.

This event will bring together many of the best climate leaders at work today—officials who, every day, make the tough decisions that result in real, measurable reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. I encourage you all to attend this year’s Summit, and I look forward to seeing you at the end of May in São Paulo.

Michael Bloomberg
Mayor of New York and Chair of the C40