With the 6th European Sustainable Cities and Towns Conference – Dunkerque 2010, just over a week away, the organisers and partners of the event have presented two draft political declarations to participants.

The Dunkerque 2010 Local Sustainability Declaration pledges, “That the more than 1,000 leaders of European local and regional governments meeting at the conference agree to create innovative, sustainable and inclusive communities”. That among other things, they agree to “recognise that the transition to a sustainable, green and inclusive economy is the only way to combine quality of life, economic development and social welfare”. The Dunkerque 2010 Call on Climate Action is a request by the conference participants for greater recognition of the role of local governments in the fight against climate change following the outcome of COP15 in December 2009.

Participants are welcome to comment on the document at the event. It is planned that both political declarations will then be approved by acclamation during the closing plenary on 21 May, and presented thereafter to the high-level representatives of the Council of Europe, the Spanish EU Presidency, the Committee of the Regions, the European Commission and to the French Minister for the Environment.

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