Regulation & Policy Oct 20, 2021 3:44 PM
The Mayor of Bogota, Claudia Lopez met with the Minister for the Pacific and Environment of the United Kingdom, Zac Goldsmith, and other governors and representatives of city associations.
The goal of the meeting was to identify potential areas of collaboration to meet Climate Action targets, La Republica reported.
The meeting also sought to define strategies to invite more cities to join the global Cities Race to Zero initiative.
“Preventing and counteracting deforestation and greening our cities are concrete contributions from Colombia to the fight against climate change,” Lopez said.
Lopez said that encouraging cultural changes in both citizens and institutions will be fundamental to meet the mitigation challenges.
“Adaptation and resilience must be a priority, because the impacts of climate change affect vulnerable populations the most,” Lopez added.
Goldsmith said that UK is building ambitious bets in the lead up to COP26.
“We are putting nature at the heart of our bid against climate change,” Goldsmith highlighted.
British Ambassador to Colombia Colin Martin-Reynolds said that this visit is a milestone in the Partnership for Sustainable Growth, which is the basis of the close relationship between the two countries.
“This is a great opportunity to encourage greater regional ambition in environmental protection and to showcase the progress of the various projects we are undertaking in Colombia in the lead-up to COP26,” Martin-Reynolds said.
This high-level meeting was also attended by Fiona Clouder, Regional Ambassador for COP26; Carlos Alberto Maya, Mayor of Pereira; Luis Eduardo Castro, Mayor of Yopal; Álvaro Barrera, Mayor of Topagá; Juan David Palacio, Director of the Metropolitan Area of the Aburrá Valley; Manuel Felipe Olivera, Regional Director of C40 Latin America; Mónica Santa, Executive Director of Iclei Colombia; and Luz María Zapata, Executive Director of Asocapitales.
