The mayors of London, Paris, Los Angeles, Copenhagen, Barcelona, Quito, Vancouver, Mexico City, Milan, Seattle, Auckland and Cape Town have signed the C40 Fossil-Fuel-Free Streets Declaration, pledging to procure only zero-emission buses from 2025 and to create substantial zero-emission zones in their cities by 2030.

The signatories also pledged to procure zero-emission vehicles for city fleets. Cities will report back every two years on the progress they are making towards the goals of the C40 Declaration.

“Air pollution caused by petrol and diesel vehicles is killing millions of people in cities around the world,” said Anne Hidalgo, Mayor of Paris and C40 Chair. “In Paris we are taking bold action to prioritize the streets for pedestrians and cyclists. Working with citizens, businesses and mayors of these great cities we will create green and healthy streets for future generations to enjoy.”

“The largest sources of air pollution are also the largest sources of carbon emissions – and in many cities, transportation is the biggest culprit,” said UN Special Envoy for Cities and Climate Change and C40 Board President Michael R. Bloomberg.  “C40 Mayors understand thriving cities require clean air. By switching to cleaner vehicles, we can fight climate change and save many lives.”

“I am absolutely committed to tackling the deadly effects of toxic air on Londoners and making London a zero carbon city,” said Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London. “This is just the first step – we are introducing further restrictions on polluting vehicles over the next few years, as well as cleaning up our bus fleet and keeping our pledge not to buy a single new double-decker diesel bus.”

“In Copenhagen…we have the ambitious goal of becoming the world’s first CO₂-neutral capital by 2025,” said Frank Jensen, Lord Mayor of Copenhagen.

“Tacking climate change requires bold mobility policies in cities,” said Miguel Ángel Mancera, Mayor of Mexico City. “The transport sector accounts for 60% of CO₂ emissions in Mexico City.”

“In Auckland, our largest single contributor to greenhouse gas emissions is from transport – around 40%, so signing this declaration signals how serious we are about tackling climate change,” said Phil Goff, Mayor of Auckland.

Source: C40 via Green Car Congress