Climate change

“This Assembly recognises the statement from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change in its Fifth Assessment Report, that:

• Human influence on the climate system is clear, and recent anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gases are the highest in history.
• Recent climate changes have had widespread impacts on human and natural systems.
• Continued emission of greenhouse gases will cause further warming and long-lasting changes in all components of the climate system, increasing the likelihood of severe, pervasive and irreversible impacts for people and ecosystems.
• Limiting climate change would require substantial and sustained reductions in greenhouse gas emissions which, together with adaptation, can limit climate change risks.
• Substantial emissions reductions over the next few decades can reduce climate risks in the 21st century and beyond, increase prospects for effective adaptation, reduce the costs and challenges of mitigation in the longer term, and contribute to climate-resilient pathways for sustainable development.

This Assembly also recognises the warning given by the Chair of the IPCC that “we have little time before the window of opportunity to stay within the 2°C of warming closes”.

This Assembly calls on the Mayor of London to fully reflect the Fifth Assessment Report and its urgent call for action in his economic, social and environmental policies and programmes for London for the remainder of his term of office.

Further, this Assembly notes the pioneering role that the Greater London Authority played in establishing the C40 Cities Group, with the aim of taking action at the city level to achieve measurable reductions in both greenhouse gas emissions and climate risks. Given that the IPCC’s report notes that many global risks of climate change are concentrated in urban areas[4], this Assembly calls on the Mayor to work closely with his colleagues in city government across the globe to translate the findings of the report in to discernible action in London and beyond.”