Dubuque Mayor and Sustainability Director to Represent City at COP28 Global Climate Conference  

NOV. 21, 2023

Dubuque Mayor Brad Cavanagh and City of Dubuque Sustainability Director Gina Bell will attend COP28, an annual global climate conference, in Dubai later this month where world leaders will convene to discuss climate change.   

COP28 is hosted by the United Nations and brings world leaders together to engage in crucial negotiations and commitments concerning the climate crisis. Cavanagh and Bell will also participate in the COP28 Local Climate Action Summit to represent local solutions to the crisis and showcase Dubuque’s leadership in climate action. Their involvement offers a unique opportunity to connect with fellow climate leaders to align, share, and advance climate action plans.  

“Cities are at the forefront of climate impacts and solutions. It’s where real change starts,” said Cavanagh. “This is a great opportunity to share what we have learned locally and to learn about what's working in communities around the world. I'm grateful to Bloomberg Philanthropies and the COP28 Presidency for dedicating a space to local and regional climate efforts. I look forward to discussing how we can drive actionable change and progress, both globally and within our cities.” 

Hosted by Bloomberg Philanthropies and the UAE COP28 Presidency, the Local Climate Action Summit will bring together subnational climate leaders – including mayors, governors, businesses, non-government organizations, and more – and recognizes the critical role local leaders play in reducing emissions, addressing climate impacts, and supercharging efforts from the ground up to move further and faster on climate progress. 

“Given the pivotal role local governments play in fighting the climate crisis, COP28 and the Local Climate Action Summit provide an invaluable platform for national and world leaders to directly engage and learn about Dubuque’s comprehensive climate plan, progress, and ongoing projects,” said Bell. “Exchanges like this can pave the way for transformative, collective ambition and action on a global scale with a local impact.” 

At COP28 and the Local Climate Action Summit, Cavanagh and Bell will highlight the actions and progress made in Dubuque, including the City’s plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by the year 2030. The summit will bring climate leaders together across four core themes: 

? Transforming Local Climate Finance: Strengthening sustainable financial mechanisms to mobilize the trillions of dollars in public and private investment needed globally at the subnational level to deliver real change. 

? Integrating Local Contributions to Enhance Global Action: Incorporating local implementation into national and international climate policy design and determining how best to factor subnational action into future national and global climate goals, including for 2030. 

? Fast-tracking the Local Energy Transition: Propelling rapid advancements across pivotal sectors and surface new strategies to deliver ambitious results locally. 

? Strengthening Local Resilience and Adaptation: Protecting residents and infrastructure from immediate and future climate risks. 

The summit is backed by world-leading networks of local leaders, including the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group, the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy, ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability, United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG), US Conference of Mayors, the Under2 Coalition, the World Resources Institute (WRI), and others.  

Approximately 30 US cities are expected to be represented at the summit. Bloomberg Philanthropies is covering Cavanagh and Bell’s travel expenses to attend. 

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MEDIA CONTACT
Randy Gehl, Public Information Officer
RGehl@cityofdubuque.org, (563) 589-4151