By Kay Scrimger
June 28, 2010

The European Commission, executive body of the European Union, established the Covenant of Mayors about two-and-a-half years ago, an undertaking bringing European mayors together in a pledge to reduce carbon emissions by 2020.

Covenant of Mayors Principal Administrator Pedro Ballesteros Torres addressed the Sunday Plenary Session to thank The U.S. Conference of Mayors for the inspiration to Europe of its U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement; outline how mayors and cities in Europe are working for climate protection; and express hope that European and U.S. mayors will work together to share their experiences and best practices.

"Two and a half years ago, when initiating the Covenant of Mayors, we expected perhaps a limited number of signatories," Ballesteros said. "But instead, we had a lot of interest and today have 1,787 cities."

Commitment to the Covenant is "very particular," he said. It calls for setting forth a sustainable plan, specifying the role of the public and private sectors, listing the city's responsibilities, and saying how resources will be raised and used. The plan is periodically reviewed.

Ballesteros stressed the need to count on mayors and their cities — climate protection "will either take place in our cities or it will take place nowhere" because mayors are the key to saving the environment, he said.

The decision makers at the U.N. (COP 15) Climate Change Conference in December 2009 were national governments but the action in climate change occurs at the local and regional level, he said.

Ballesteros expressed the hope that The U.S. Conference of Mayors and the Covenant of Mayors will work together to share experiences and explore innovative ways of financing local efforts.

Mayors received special greetings in a video from President Mercedes Bresso, Committee of the Regions, European Union, to the 78th Annual Conference of Mayors after Ballesteros- remarks.

At the conclusion of the Plenary Session, The U.S. Conference of Mayors and the Covenant of Mayors signed a Letter of Understanding.

Conference signatories were Conference President Burnsville (MN) Mayor Elizabeth B. Kautz and CEO and Executive Director Tom Cochran. Covenant of Mayors Principal Administrator Pedro Ballesteros Torres and representing Committee of the Regions of the European Commission President Mercedes Bresso, Gianluca Spinaci signed on behalf of the Covenant of Mayors, European Commission, and the Committee of the Regions, European Union.