Toronto Declaration

WE THE PARTICIPANTS from 16 local authorities who have taken leadership to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in 12 nations around the world;

TAKING PART in the Best Practices Exchange, sponsored by the City of Toronto, the Toronto Atmospheric Fund, the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI), held during the Smog Summit in Toronto, Canada, June 17 -20, 2001;

RECOGNIZING that climate change is the most critical threat to the sustainability of our planet and that the health of millions of people is at risk from rising heat, increased disease, more frequent and extreme weather events and rising sea levels;

CONCERNED that international progress has stalemated while global emissions continue to rise;

HEREBY pledge to continue our collective efforts to reduce existing emissions and lower future emissions growth. Achieving emission reductions of at least 50 percent worldwide will be necessary to solve the problem. This will require significant and immediate attention by a true worldwide partnership of national governments, local governments, citizens, and businesses. We urge national governments to create strategic plans to support local government in their climate change protection work and to act on their commitments made through their ratification of the Framework Convention on Climate Change;

AND RESOLVE to submit the attached Communiqué, addressed to the nations attending the UN Conference of the Parties 7th Meeting in Morocco in November 2001, to local authorities worldwide for their approval.

Signed June 20, 2001:

Berlin Copenhagen Graz Helsinki

Leicester Melbourne Portland Saarbrucken

Saint Paul Sudbury Vancouver Vaxjo

Mexico City South Africa Curitiba Toronto

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