In Montreal, we are taking concrete action [in supporting nature], for example by protecting riverbanks, by strengthening our urban forests through the planting of trees, and by creating new parks and green spaces.
We are building a ‘Paris’ per week in new infrastructure to meet the needs of our growing urban population. Imagine if we could fully integrate nature in the design of such infrastructure to minimize the impact & make it nature positive…
We don’t have to start from scratch… We know what to do – We need to change the texture of cities & the way the infrastructure is built. We already know where we’re going – we need to create jobs for young people in cities
What we have seen over the past months in our cities and town where two-thirds of the population of the European Region lives, is that strong local government in a factor behind successful pandemic mitigation. Local governments in the European Region have been and still are – at the forefront of curtailing the pandemic
Cities are always going to be melting pots of people and nature
By planning our cities with nature, we can improve the quality of life now and lay the ground for a sustainable future for the next generations
As nature degrades, new opportunities emerge for the spread to humans and animals of devastating diseases like this year’s coronavirus. The window of time available is short, but the pandemic has also demonstrated that transformative changes are possible when they must be made
I am delighted to see the growing interest of cities in urban biodiversity, an issue that plays a crucial role for resilient cities and the well-being of their citizens.
Now is the time for urgent action. Nature underpins our very existence and livelihoods and is integral to the effective functioning and well-being of urban communities.
Cities and regions united under the Cohesion Alliance will work to make sure the European Union’s cohesion policy will become an essential pillar for the recovery of our territories, in line with the European Pillar of Social Rights, the European Green Deal and SDG’s