Mike Bloomberg: Why the Paris Climate Summit is Now More Important than Ever

Originally posted on mikebloomberg.com 
 

By Mike Bloomberg 

On November 13, only hours before terrorists launched despicable attacks on the people of Paris, I met with Mayor Anne Hidalgo to discuss the upcoming Climate Summit for Local Leaders that we are convening on December 4, as part of the U.N.’s gathering of world leaders at COP21.

After watching the city endure a night of monstrous barbarity that left at least 129 people dead and hundreds wounded, I went to Paris’s City Hall on Saturday to offer my full support to Mayor Hidalgo during this painful period. I gave Mayor Hidalgo my personal pledge that I would do everything possible to convince the global community of local leaders to express its solidarity with Paris and the people of France by attending the Summit.

I was elected mayor of New York City two months after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, and of all the expressions of support we received – and we appreciated every one – the most powerful were the personal visits from people around the world. Their refusal to allow acts of terror to scare them away from our city sent a critically important message to the global community and played an important role in our recovery.

There is no better opportunity for mayors to support the people of Paris than by accepting Mayor Hidalgo’s invitation to attend the summit. Cities face many common challenges, and overcoming them requires us to stand together – and that’s why the summit in Paris is now more important than ever.