In accordance with the global efforts to face climate change and to promote sustainable economic growth, Sao Paulo hosts the 2011 C40 São Paulo Summit – from May 31st to June 3rd – at the Sheraton WTC Hotel, gathering Mayors and City representatives from leading cities around the world. The fourth edition of the Summit takes place for the first time in Latin America followed by London in 2005, New York in 2007 and Seoul in 2009.

Various sustainable development policies have guaranteed Sao Paulo the opportunity to host C40 Summit. The São João and Bandeirantes landfills projects are a classical example: the gas captured the thermal powerplant generates enough energy to supply around 700.000 people – equivalent to 7% of the electricity consumed in the city. The municipal leisure parks expansion, cycle routes construction, vehicle inspection to reduce the pollution and public hybrid bus test program participation are other examples of public environmental policies.

The C40 Climate Leadership Group was created in 2005 in London to discuss global warming and climate change in an international effort between public and private initiatives to cooperate for the reducing of GHG climate emissions. The main goal is to help cities to create effective actions to tackle global warming.

The group is formed by 40 members cities and 19 affiliates spread throughout the six continents. In 2006, a partnership with Clinton Climate Initiative was announced to reaffirm the C40 compromise in reduce carbon emissions and increase energy efficiency in large cities.

So far, mayors and representatives of 17 cities have confirmed their presences at the event in Sao Paulo, including Mayor Michael Bloomberg of New York, chair of the C40, Mayor Maurício Macri of Buenos Aires, Mayor Frank Jensen of Copenhagen, Mayor Clover Moore of Sydney and Mayor Eberhard van der Laan of Amsterdam. Eduardo Paes, Mayor of Rio de Janeiro, and Luciano Ducci, Mayor of Curitiba will also attend the event.

C40 Summit will take place at Sheraton Sao Paulo WTC Hotel with approximately 20 debates on a variety of themes, such as sustainable construction, low gas emission public transportation, and green taxis.

“We will take advantage of this opportunity to reassure our commitment with strategies and goals of C40. We are aware of our duty to contribute in spreading sustainable ideas and we take this commitment very seriously. We are confident that São Paulo will make a difference in these discussions about sustainable urban practices and citizens will have a key role in this process”, says Mayor of São Paulo, Gilberto Kassab.

Greener SP – The low gas emission practice not only improves the quality of the air and therefore health population but gives the City Hall an opportunity to develop projects to improve sustainable life quality in the city. São Paulo was also selected by CFCB Program (Carbon Finance Capacity Building) which identifies the local capacity of greenhouse gas emission reduction and generates certificates of emission reductions (CERs). The first results from this program will be announced at C40 in São Paulo.

Between 2007 and 2008, the City Hall promoted two bids in the carbon credit market from Sao Joao and Bandeirantes landfills and raised more than 20 million euros. The resources obtained from the negotiation are being invested in environmental projects in the neighboring areas of the landfills.

Besides these implemented initiatives, there are other projects that will also be funded by the raised money, such as revitalization of green areas which contributes to reduce greenhouse gas emission. Since 2005, the city of São Paulo have cultivated more than 500,000 trees. The Project 100 Parks to Sao Paulo is another initiative that will considerably contribute to the increase of green areas in the city. The goal is to have 100 parks by next year, when Sao Paulo city will have more than 50 million square meters of green and leisure areas.

These projects contribute in making São Paulo a greener city and the right place to hold an event such as C40. In the past C40 events, reduction of gas emission initiatives gained public support and have become examples.

In 2007, C40 was held in New York City with the participation of Partnership for New York City, a non-profit organization formed by 200 CEOs from major American companies engaged to maintain the position of the city as global center for commerce, culture, and innovation. New Yorkers also had an active participation by presenting a document with more than 120 practices suggestions to enhance the quality of life in the city.

ABOUT C40

The C40 Large Cities Climate Summit is a conference that brings together every two years mayors from all over the world to discuss actions and practices in combating climate change. It was created in 2005 in London and its main goal is to deliver international cooperation between large cities to reduce greenhouse gas emission and to promote best practices between public and private institutions in tackling global warming.

In 2006 a partnership was established with Clinton Climate Initiative (CCI), a foundation created by former president Clinton. The C40 Steering Committee is formed by the cities of São Paulo, Delhi, Berlin, Johannesburg, London, Los Angeles, New York, Toronto and Tokyo. The group is responsible for all C40 activities and international strategies.

In June 2008, with the support of the city of São Paulo, the Mayor of Toronto, David Miller, was elected chair of the C40 climate leadership group, succeeding Ken Livingstone, former London mayor. Last November, with the support of São Paulo once again, New York mayor, Michael Bloomberg, was elected the new chair of the committee.

C40 São Paulo Summit
From May 31st to June 3rd, 2011
Sheraton WTC Hotel – Av. das Nações Unidas, 12.559, Brooklin Novo, São Paulo.