The mayor, Federico Gutiérrez Zuluaga, presented the initiatives of Medellín related to the protection of the environment at the Global Summit on Climate Action (GCAS) and the C40 Steering Committee. Among these initiatives, the Mayor highlighted the Pact for Air Quality, which brings together 83 public and private stakeholders, including the C40 Network, around 446 commitments with goals set to 2030.
The local leader explained that the project is currently working on a pilot with 1,500 electric taxis which, in addition to contributing to improve air quality, are paid through a concerted plan with the taxi drivers, so it is also a social project.
Today Medellin has 20 eco stations and the Metro of Medellín continues its expansion plan with electric mobility projects such as Metrocable Picacho. The actions aim to mitigate and adapt to climate change, in the search to reduce or avoid Greenhouse Gases emissions.
The Pact for Air Quality was signed in Medellín in February this year, which links 83 public and private actors, including the C40 Network. In addition, the Mayor talked about the 20 eco stations located around the city and the expansion plan of the Metro with electric mobility projects such as the Metrocable Picacho.
There is an air decontamination plan for the city and its metropolitan area with goals set by 2030 – PIGECA. It seeks to reduce PM2.5 up to 23 in the year 2030 (it is currently at 33). Medellín went from 8 to 21 air quality monitoring devices in the metropolitan area that correspond to 50% of the stations in the country.
“Taking action against climate change is no longer an option. there might be political and cultural differences – but I know we share the love for our cities and for our people. I also know that we are committed to give our children a friendlier world in every way,” said the Mayor.
Federico Gutiérrez Zuluaga thanked the recognition given to Medellín by appointing him as Vice President of the C40 Steering Committee and one of the representatives for Latin America, along with the Mayor of the Metropolitan Region of Santiago de Chile, Karla Rubilar. He also thanked Anne Hidalgo, Mayor of Paris and President of the Steering Committee of C40 and Michael Bloomberg, founder of C40, for his determined and constant work for the development of cities facing climate change and the creation of sustainable and innovative spaces.
Medellín also accepted and joined the Letter of Commitment to ‘Deadline 2020,’ in November 2017. This project aims to support the implementation of the Paris Agreement. “As a member of this committee, and in the framework of the Paris Agreement, we committed ourselves to become a neutral city in terms of greenhouse gas emissions and resilient to the climate by 2050,” said Gutierrez.
Regarding the adaptation to climate change, the Municipal Administration has projects such as the 30 green corridors, the green walls and the Payment for Environmental Services.
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