IN a new effort to lead cities toward a better path as they recover from the tragedies brought about by Covid-19, the C40 Global Mayors Covid-19 Recovery Task Force was born. It was initiated by Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti and Mayor of Milan Giuseppe Sala to bring together mayors from all over the world to create a solid plan for the green recovery of their cities.
These mayors see the pandemic as an opportunity to transform the world’s great cities and create a new normal for the benefit of the cities’ inhabitants. At the same time, their efforts are geared toward addressing the threats of climate change. Mayor Sala wrote, “We must not only treat the symptoms of global destabilization, but also prepare for future shocks and address deep, systemic ills that existed long before Covid-19.
The world’s city mayors have the power to use resources and implement policies that will enable their cities to help in the overall economic recovery. The group believes that cities have the capability to cut emissions by 90 percent and to create 87 million jobs by 2030, yielding an economic return of $24 trillion by 2050 in cost savings alone.
These cities will prioritize the creation of green jobs, safe and affordable housing for the people, resilient infrastructure, renewable energy, and zero-carbon mass transit. They intend to transform their respective economies into inclusive systems that will benefit everyone. For example, programs will be launched to train and upskill workers and to support the cities’ essential workers.
To enable their cities to deal with future shocks, the mayors plan to strengthen the foundations of a fair society and build a strong economy that can provide basic public services for every resident. This includes safe mass transit and access to clean water, food, sanitation, and affordable, healthy housing.
Part of the plan is to create “15-minute cities” where every basic need is accessible to everyone via a short walk or bike ride. There will be permanent reallocation of road space to pedestrians and cyclists and investments in nature-based solutions like parks, green roofs, and permeable pavements to reduce the dangers of extreme heat, drought and flooding. As a result, there will be more green spaces and cleaner air to promote healthier, sustainable lifestyles.
The cities that are part of the task force have already started to implement programs and actions to turn the above mentioned plans into reality. It would be great if some of our Philippine mayors could become part of this global task force, or create a local version of the worldwide effort to create a better future for the cities of the world.
Covid-19 has certainly taught us many lessons, and I hope that these will not go unheeded, especially by our leaders who have the capability to build places and a future that is safe, healthy and abundant.