Gwangju Cities Declaration – World Mayors pledge better urban planning for greener cities

The Gwangiu Cities Declaration sets the way forward towards the greening of cities through improved planning and intelligent management. Released at the conclusion of the Summit of the Urban Environmental Accords held in Korea on 11-13 October, the Declaration calls for the development of an Urban Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) under the UN Convention for Climate Change. It also recommends the development of metrics to measure and report urban sustainability and to encourage the development of policies, regulations and innovative market mechanisms to accelerate the transition towards greener urban development. The Declaration calls for action across five major sectors:

• Achieving energy efficiency, in particular in the building sectors through adequate information, labeling schemes, incentives and supporting measures
• Supporting sustainable urban transport, with a focus on integrated transport systems that are safe, reliable and accessible
• Improved waste management through converting waste to energy, promoting recycling and reuse, and waste minimization
• Improved water and wastewater systems with focus on more efficient sanitation, safety and health, reliable distribution systems with access to all, improved management of resources and water demand
• Better Ecosystems management to protect habitats, the food supply chain, fragile ecosystems and to improve risk prevention and resilience