Joburg wins prestigious award in Paris
The City of Johannesburg has won the prestigious C40 Cities Award for its leadership in tackling climate change through its successful Green Bond initiative.
Phindile Chauke from the Johannesburg mayoral communications said on Friday: “The accolade was announced as the City of Johannesburg Executive Mayor, Cllr. Parks Tau made his way to Paris for the Climate Summit for Local Leaders on Friday … as part of the Compact of Mayors – a global coalition of city leaders dedicated to taking climate action”.
She said the award was received on Thursday in Paris, France, by Johannesburg member of mayoral committee for finance, Cllr. Geaff Makhubo on behalf of the city.
C40 President and UN Secretary General Special Envoy for Cities and Climate Change Michael R. Bloomberg said: “The C40 Cities Awards recognizes mayors who are doing the hard work of taking action on climate change – and delivering results.”
Johannesburg was among 10 global cities announced as winners at the 3rd Annual C40 Cities Awards held in Paris, France, during the COP21 climate negotiations.
These winning cities aslo included Boston, Rotterdam and Nanjing each demonstrated exceptional innovation and ambition to build low carbon and climate resilient urban communities in various sectors.
Chauke said Johannesburg welcomes the win in the Finance & Economic Development category award for the city’s Green Bond investment initiative, which is an innovative financial instrument committing it to future emissions reductions.
The Green Bond is based on a detailed climate change vulnerability assessment which helps the city to understand its climate risk and the recognition by C40 is an indicator that Johannesburg is moving in the right direction with its interventions to mitigate climate change.
The Green Bond also supports the city by creating funding opportunities to assist in preparing and implementing integrated inclusive and long-term mitigation strategies designed to reduce vulnerability.