2011
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 Mayors Meet Europe with (from left) Roman Doubrava, DG Energy, Christian Ude, Mayor of Munich, presenter, Maria Vassilakou, Vice-Mayor of Vienna, Dr. Ferran Vallespinós, Province of Barcelona, und Ronan Dantec, Vice-President of Nantes Métropole; photographer: Tobias Hase |
Executive Board: Joachim Lorenz (Munich, Germany), Diego Iván Escobar Guzman (COICA, Ecuador), Dr. Manuela Rottmann (Frankfurt am Main, Germany), Camille Gira (Beckerich, Luxembourg), Fredy Brunner (St.Gallen, Switzerland), Josef Danksagmüller (Stetteldorf am Wagram, Austria), Ronan Dantec (Nantes Métropole, France), Peter Heskes (Den Haag, Netherlands), Daniele Olivi (Jesi, Italy), Dr. Karl-Ludwig Schibel (Città di Castello, Italy), Mag. Eva Schobesberger (Linz, Austria)
Central issues of the International Annual Conference in Munich were the economic aspects of climate protection in times of tight budgets and the Millennium Consumption Goals developed by Prof. Mohan Munasinghe. The General Assembly adopted two resolutions: on the one hand regarding the regulatory framework for electric mobility, which stresses that motor car traffic can only be part of an integrated mobility system; on the other hand a resolution with the demand for an energy turnaround with decentralised
renewable energies instead of nuclear power.
In South African Durban, the UN Climate Summit took place at which the hopes of binding global intervention against climate change once again went unfulfilled. Climate Alliance presented the successes of its member cities and municipalities in achieving CO2 reductions and discussed the success factors. In addition, in the context of the campaign “ZOOM – Kids on the Move” 2.7 million collected Green Footprints were handed over to the UN Climate Secretariat.
European Union: The Climate Alliance Executive Board had a meeting with the European Commission's Director-General for Energy concerning the financing of local measures in climate protection. Climate Alliance has worked together with other networks for the preservation of the Intelligent Energy Europe programme. In addition, a position paper was developed, which expresses binding energy efficiency targets on European level.
In the meantime more than 3,500 local authorities had signed the Covenant of Mayors and committed themselves to save at least 20 percent of the CO2 emissions until 2020. In the context of the Covenant of Mayors EAST Climate Alliance has also been active in the countries east of the EU: Cities and municipalities in eleven states in Eastern Europe, Southern Caucasus and Central Asia are supported in the development of a sustainable local energy policy.
2010
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 2010: Concentrated audience |
Executive Board: Joachim Lorenz (Munich, Germany), Diego Iván Escobar Guzman (COICA, Ecuador), Dr. Manuela Rottmann (Frankfurt am Main, Germany), Camille Gira (Beckerich, Luxembourg), Fredy Brunner (St. Gallen, Switzerland), Josef Danksagmüller (Stetteldorf am Wagram, Austria), Ronan Dantec (Nantes Métropole, France), Melanie Maatman (Den Haag, Netherlands), Daniele Olivi (Jesi, Italy), Dr. Karl-Ludwig Schibel (Città di Castello, Italy), Mag. Eva Schobesberger (Linz, Austria)
"Local Solutions for Change" was the motto of the International Annual Conference in the Italian city of Perugia. Central to the event were the perspectives of the cities and municipalities in the aftermath of the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, ambitious climate protection targets, the Covenant of Mayors and climate justice in our One World. The general assembly agreed to the resolution "Leave the oil in the ground!" in support of Ecuador’s ITT-Yasuní initiative in addition to another resolution calling for funding for cities and municipalities from the EU’s Economic Recovery Programme.
After the disappointment of the 2009 conference in Copenhagen Climate Alliance’s Executive Board and the national coordinators made the decision not to travel to the 2010 UN Climate Conference in Cancún – to also emphasise that municipalities contribute to climate protection without waiting for results on the international level. Instead COICA was supported so they could participate in the conference and present their concerns, especially unto the instruments to the reduction of CO2 emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD).
Together with other environmental organisations, Climate Alliance has for years supported a campaign for EU legislative measures against the import and trade of timber and timber products from illegal logging. In 2010, the European Parliament finally agreed to a ban prohibiting the sale of illegally logged timber, tracking measures and sanctions in the event of noncompliance. However, this comes into force not earlier than only 2012.
In the meantime 700 local and regional authorities in Germany and Italy are using the energy and CO2 inventory tool ECORegion. Furthermore it was officially recognised by the European Commission as adequate tool for the elaboration of sustainable energy actions plans in the framework of the Covenant of Mayors.
2009
Executive Board: Joachim Lorenz (Munich, Germany), Diego Iván Escobar (COICA, Ecuador), Dr. Karl-Ludwig Schibel (Città di Castello, Italy), Eva Schobesberger (Linz, Austria), Camille Gira (Beckerich, Luxembourg), Melanie Maatman (The Hague, Netherlands), Dr. Manuela Rottmann (Frankfurt am Main, Germany), Josef Danksagmüller (Stetteldorf am Wagram, Austria), Freddy Brunner (St. Gallen , Switzerland), Ronan Dantec (Nantes Métropole, France)
For the first time Climate Alliance invites together with the city network Energie-Cités to the International Annual Conference to Brussels Capital-Region. The motto "3x20:Play the game" stands for the energy and climate objectives of the EU in the year 2020. The initiative of the EU Commission "Covenant of Mayors" should assist to reach these.
The General Assembly advises all member cities and communities to do everything in their power in order to formulate 75% of their tenders ecologically and socially sustainable by 2012, 90% by 2015 and 100% by 2020.
Looking back on 2009, the year is marked on an international level mainly by the preparations for the COP15 in Copenhagen. Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation (REDD) is an of the UN Climate Conference 2007 proposed element in the framework of a new post-2012 agreement. In this controversial discussed issue the members of Climate Alliance see the danger – even they welcome forest protection measures in principle – that additional "cheap" certificates will counteract the efforts for a genuine reduction in emissions.
A Climate Alliance delegation travels in the framework of the EU project EnergyBridges to Ecuador. There they view hidden oil lakes in the Amazon rainforest and – in officially cleaned areas – soil that has the smell of oil. These are the results of the environmental disaster that the biggest oil companies Chevron left in Ecuador.
Climate Alliance counted a total of 1,525 members by the end of 2009: 1,471 cities and municipalities from 18 countries as well as 21 federal states and provinces and 33 associations and organisations as associated members.
2008
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 The Executive Board 2008 in Aachen (from left): Ronan Dantec (Nantes Métropole, France), Dr. Karl-Ludwig Schibel (Città di Castello, Italy), Josef Danksagmüller (Stetteldorf am Wagram, Austria), Camille Gira (Beckerich, Luxembourg), Joachim Lorenz (Munich, Germany) and Freddy Brunner (St. Gallen, Switzerland) |
Executive Board: Joachim Lorenz (Munich, Germany), Diego Iván Escobar (COICA, Ecuador), Dr. Karl-Ludwig Schibel (Città di Castello, Italy), Dr. Christiana Dolezal (Linz, Austria), Camille Gira (Beckerich, Luxembourg),Giovanni Franco Orlando (Modena, Italy), Melanie Maatman (The Hague, Netherlands), Dr. Manuela Rottmann (Frankfurt am Main, Germany), Josef Danksagmüller (Stetteldorf am Wagram, Austria), Freddy Brunner (St. Gallen, Switzerland), Ronan Dantec (Nantes Métropole, France)
On the International Annual Conference "Local climate protection crosses borders" that takes place simultaneously in Aachen (Germany) and Heerlen (Netherlands), a first design of the "Covenant of Mayors" is presented. Furthermore the CO2 monitoring tool will be introduced for the first time. It offers the opportunity to provide a consistent Climate Alliance balance methodology for the local and regional level in Europe.
The members of Climate Alliance adopt a resolution in which they call the representatives of European Parliament, European Commission and the national governments to include in their principles and guidelines regarding the use of fuels from biomass, social, ecological and economic criteria to avoid the harmful consequences on it in Europe and in developing countries. In a second resolution they warn about CO2 compensation projects as assumed low-cost alternative for voluntary reduction of greenhouse gas.
More than 100 indigenous representatives from around the world participate in the UN Conference on Biodiversity in May 2008 in Bonn to contribute to the negotiations about regulations on access and utilisation of biodiversity.
The project Pro-EE starts at the end of 2007. It is a new EU project of the Climate Alliance. The aim is to increase the market presence of energy-efficient products through joint procurement of energy-efficient equipment and vehicles. In addition there will be dialogue between the cities as purchasers and industry, in order to develop these products further in an energy-efficient direction.
2007
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 2007: Diego Iván Escobar in front of the scenery of Zurich |
Executive Board: Joachim Lorenz (Munich, Germany), Dr. Karl-Ludwig Schibel (Città di Castello, Italy), Dr. Christiana Dolezal (Linz, Austria), Camille Gira (Beckerich, Luxembourg), Giovanni Franco Orlando (Modena, Italy), Diego Iván Escobar (COICA, Ecuador)
The International Annual Conference in Zurich meets under the motto "Strategies for a Climate Compatible Society". Prof. Dr. Hans-Peter Dürr, Member of the Club of Rome, Right Livelihood Award and founder of the Global Challenges Network, lectures to the topic "How much human activity can the biosphere afford?".
One of the most important developments for the Climate Alliance in 2007 is the establishment of a permanent secretariat in Brussels – in the beginning with one employee. It represents Climate Alliance at the European Commission and the European Parliament, and vis-à-vis all European-level initiatives and events.
The AMICA project is concluded at the end of 2007. For the last two years the AMICA project (Adaptation and Mitigation: an Integrated Climate Policy Approach) is studying ways of mitigating and adapting to climate change, laying the foundations for an integrated local climate policy.
For the third time, Climate Alliance invites all European cities and municipalities to present their climate protection activities and apply for a Climate Star. In November 2007 the Climate Star laureates 2007 are awarded on invitation of the regional authority Lower Austria at a ceremony in Baden near Vienna.
2006
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 2006: The courtyard of the townhall in Vienna |
Executive Board: Joachim Lorenz (Munich, Germany), Dr. Karl-Ludwig Schibel (Città di Castello, Italy), Dr. Christiana Dolezal (Linz, Austria), Camille Gira (Beckerich, Luxembourg) Giovanni Franco Orlando (Modena, Italy), Diego Iván Escobar (COICA, Ecuador)
1302 cities and municipalities from 17 countries joined the Climate Alliance. 31 regional states and provinces as well as 31 associations and organisations collaborate with the Climate Alliance as associated members.
Following several preparatory workshops and consultations, the new Climate Alliance target is adopted at the 2006 General Assembly in Vienna: "The members of the Climate Alliance commit themselves to reducing their greenhouse gas emissions continuously. The aim is to cut CO2 emissions by 10% every 5 years. The important milestone of halving per capita emissions (baseline year 1990) shall be achieved at the latest in 2030. Reaching these goals, however, requires concerted efforts by all decision-making levels (EU, national states, regional/province governments, municipalities), as they can not be achieved by measures taken by municipalities alone."
Following the successful installation of a workshop for the production of solar lamps in connection with the FORMABIAP training programme for indigenous teachers in Iquitos, Peru, the programme is now been extended.
The aim of the fifty/fifty PLUS project, which was sponsored by the German Federal Environmental Agency (UBA), is to extend and further develop the scheme for saving energy in schools and to secure its long-term future. Application of the model is frequently met with success and is linked to a system of financial incentives.
In 2006, as before, the Europe-wide ZOOM campaign is a great success: More than 100,000 children in nine countries collect far beyond 700,000 Green Footprints to protect the world’s climate!
2005
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 2005 in Luxembourg: Heinrich Bruns (Münster, Germany) and Josef Danksagmüller (Stetteldorf am Wagram, Austria) |
Executive Board: Edwin Vásquez (COICA, Peru), Joachim Lorenz (Munich, Germany), Karl-Ludwig Schibel (Città di Castello, Italy), Christiana Dolezal (Linz, Austria), Hetty Hafkamp (Leeuwarden, Netherlands), Camille Gira (Beckerich, Luxembourg), Tibor Baran (Šal’a, Slovak Republic), Enrica Rigotti (Isera, Italy)
During the International Annual Conference in Luxembourg Prof. Klaus Töpfer, UNEP Executive Director, gives a lecture on “Energy for equitable and sustainable development – the role of local governments and communities”. Politicians of European metropolises debate with EU Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas about strategies for sustainable urban mobility. The General Assembly adopted Guidelines for the preparation of CO2 emissions inventories by member municipalities.
The goal of the EU project AMICA is the development of local and regional strategies to tackle the full range of climate change issues. AMICA aims to draw together measures necessary for adaptation to climate change and measures for preventing climate change.
European Mobility Week 2005 is held under the slogan "Clever Commuting". The successful year-on-year growth of this EU initiative is reflected in its worldwide spread, with around 960 cities and communities now taking part.
The EU project COGEN CHALLENGE is funded by the Intelligent Energy Programme is initiated by the German city of Frankfurt am Main and coordinated by the association "Cogen Europe". A large campaign for the broad dissemination of small cogeneration plants is carried out.
2004
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 2004 in Brussels: A puzzle was made |
Executive Board: Edwin Vásquez (COICA, Peru), Joachim Lorenz (Munich, Germany), Karl-Ludwig Schibel (Città di Castello, Italy), Christiana Dolezal (Linz, Austria), Hetty Hafkamp (Leeuwarden, Netherlands), Camille Gira (Beckerich, Luxembourg), Tibor Baran (Šal’a, Slovak Republic), Enrica Rigotti (Isera, Italy)
At the Climate Alliance Annual Conference in Brussels, debate with members of the European Parliament and Commission centres on European Union policies relating to the urban environment. A review of the UN Indigenous Decade finds the outcomes modest. Further topics of debate include the voluntary commitment of local authorities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the role of regions as partners of municipalities, and the effects of EU enlargement. In view of the extreme weather events that occurred in previous years, strategies for adapting to climatic changes are on the agenda for the first time.
In the run-up to the International Conference for Renewable Energies in Bonn, local-authority representatives adopt a worldwide declaration. Indigenous representatives stress in their position paper that they expect the expansion of renewable energies to lead to a reduction of mineral oil and natural gas extraction. The Climate Relay, in which 15,000 people participate, travelling 4000 kilometres through Germany in three weeks, brings its message to the International Conference. The Eco-relay in Austria travels through all the country’s regional states and through all neighbouring countries. The European SMILE campaign presents solutions for sustainable urban mobility. Several new Climate Alliance projects foster transnational cooperation for awareness-raising and for the development of local programmes of action. Within the context of the EU-funded project “Black Gold From Green Forests”, a delegation of three local-authority politicians travels deep into the Peruvian rainforest to get its own impression on site of the consequences of mineral oil production.
2003
Executive Board: Edwin Vásquez (COICA, Peru), Joachim Lorenz (Munich, Germany), Karl-Ludwig Schibel (Città di Castello, Italy), Jaap Warners (Gouda, Netherlands), Christiana Dolezal (Linz, Austria)
The main policy issues at the Annual Conference in Berlin are the EU’s European Climate Change Programme, energy issues in the developing world, and the Agenda Indigena Amazónica, COICA’s strategic plan. The conference decides to enlarge the Executive Board.
The Climate Task Force of European Local Governments is founded with Climate Alliance participation. 2100 towns and cities take part in the European Mobility Week and the "In town – without my car!" day. 80,000 children across Europe make environment-friendly trips, collecting half a million "green miles" for global climate protection. The Climate Alliance presents the results of this campaign and a status report to the UN Climate Summit in Milan, and urges consideration of the local level in national reporting. The agenda of the International Indigenous Forum in Milan includes – as does that of the summit itself – once more the controversial question of the eligibility of forest projects for the Clean Development Mechanism under the Kyoto Protocol.
2002
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 2002 in Graz: Judith Jördens (Climate Alliance employee) and Jürgen Wrede from Germering |
Executive Board: Edwin Vásquez (COICA, Peru), Joachim Lorenz (Munich, Germany), Karl-Ludwig Schibel (Città di Castello, Italy), Jaap Warners (Gouda, Netherlands), Imma Mayol (Barcelona, Spain), Christiana Dolezal (Linz, Austria)
The General Assembly in Graz is dominated by this year's major event, the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg. There are fears of a possible rollback, as well as hopes for a new quality in international sustainability policy. As well as the "Market of Projects and Ideas", which has become a regular feature of the programme, other key issues on the agenda include green and fair municipal procurement, and economic perspectives for Amazonia.
In Austria, an eco-relay for climate protection and sustainability is staged for the second time. In Germany, 30,000 children collect 141,000 "green miles" through environment-friendly trips – their contribution to the World Summit. A full 1764 towns and cities take part in the third Europe-wide "In town – without my car!" day, while 420 municipalities join in the European Mobility Week, held for the first time. The Climate Alliance launches Climate Star 2002, the first Europe-wide climate protection award, to which 120 municipalities in 13 countries make submissions.
2001
Executive Board: Edwin Vásquez (COICA, Peru), Joachim Lorenz (Munich, Germany), Karl-Ludwig Schibel (Città di Castello, Italy), Jaap Warners (Gouda, Netherlands), Imma Mayol (Barcelona, Spain), António Jacanamijoy (COICA, Colombia)
At the General Assembly and International Annual Conference in Hamburg, representatives of indigenous communities from all over the world recount their experiences as witnesses to climate change and describe the effects which are already visible within their communities. The Assembly calls for the implementation and further development of the Kyoto Protocol. A "Market of Projects and Ideas" shows how this is being achieved at municipal level.
In the grounds of an environmental project in Hamburg, close to an eco-housing area, two representatives of indigenous communities open Europe's first Amazonas Centre as a meeting-place and symbol of partnership. Friends and supporters of the Climate Alliance set up the "Friends of the Climate Alliance", a network for individuals committed to the Climate Alliance agenda and wishing to be involved in discussions and activities. The European Land and Soil Alliance, now being launched as a sister organization, is presented to members.
The Climate Alliance joins the Steering Committee of the European Sustainable Cities & Towns Campaign, which coordinates the European networks of cities on sustainability issues.
The "Wild Climate" campaign brings a new dimension to the "In Town, Without My Car" day, now in its second year. In Austria and in one region of Germany, eco-relays take place to promote the Climate Alliance agenda and draw attention to our political demands at national and international level.
2000
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 2000 in Bolzano (Climate change won’t wait): Director Gotelind Alber and the members of Committee Dr. Karl-Ludwig Schibel, Joachim Lorenz, Dr. Christiana Dolezal and Edwin Vásquez (from left to right) |
Executive Board: Edwin Vásquez (COICA, Peru), Joachim Lorenz (Munich, Germany), Karl-Ludwig Schibel (Città di Castello, Italy), Jaap Warners (Gouda, Netherlands), Christiana Dolezal (Linz, Austria), António Jacanamijoy (COICA, Colombia)
At the General Assembly in Bolzano, the "Climate Alliance Declaration" is adopted as the second basic document of the Climate Alliance. Reflecting on more than ten years of work and developments during this period, it redefines the Climate Alliance objectives and identifies fields of action and measures based on a comprehensive understanding of climate protection and North-South partnership. In defining its goals, it notes that the different starting and overall conditions in the various cities must be taken into account. The Declaration reaffirms the original commitment to halving CO2 emissions as a midterm objective. In addition, it establishes the long-term goal of a climate-friendly per capita value for all greenhouse gas emissions.
At the UN Climate Conference in The Hague, the Climate Alliance organizes the first major Indigenous Forum on climate policy and circulates an up-to-date Status Report on Municipal Climate Protection. Europe's first Car Free Day takes place on 22 September.
1999
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 1999 in Apeldoorn: Members of Committee Jaap Warners, José Luis Gonzáles, Tom Koenigs and Dr. Karl-Ludwig Schibel (from left to right) and Director Gotelind Alber (second from right) |
Executive Board: José Luis González (COICA, Venezuela), Joachim Lorenz (Munich, Germany), Karl-Ludwig Schibel (Città di Castello, Italy), Jaap Warners (Gouda, Netherlands), Christiana Dolezal (Linz, Austria), António Jacanamijoy (COICA, Colombia)
The focus of this year's General Assembly in Apeldoorn is ecological tax reform as a way of improving the economic framework conditions for climate protection. A resolution is adopted on this issue. The treatment of forests as a CO2 sink in the Kyoto Protocol is a further issue for critical debate. Members are urged to monitor their progress using a set of indicators. The Climate Alliance's voluntary commitment is extended to include the partially halogenated hydrocarbons HCFCs and HFCs.
The art "Project Green", which aims to involve cities in fund-raising for indigenous projects in Brazil, is presented to members. Alongside the practical projects, a wide range of themes is now being discussed with the indigenous peoples: the consolidation of indigenous rights and indigenous policies at national and European level, the Biodiversity and Climate Conventions, and the oil dialogue process. For municipal climate protection, new fields of action such as agriculture, forestry and waste management are introduced. The "Climate Protection with Profits" campaign highlights the benefits of municipal energy management.
1998
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 1998: Gotelind Alber (Director), Dr. Karl-Ludwig Schibel (Committee) and Wolfgang Mehl (Director of Climate Alliance Austria) |
The theme of this year's General Assembly in Lucerne is sustainability, focussing on transport, Local Agenda 21, CO2 monitoring and certification of tropical timber. The voluntary obligation on tropical timber is redefined on the basis of the FSC certification scheme.
The Climate Alliance explores the possible impact of forestry projects in the southern hemisphere under the Kyoto Protocol and organizes a seminar which initiates involvement by indigenous organizations in international climate policy. José Luis González, President of the Climate Alliance, is the first indigenous representative to address the UN Climate Conference in Buenos Aires. By now, 15 projects are being run by COICA and its member organizations in Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru and Venezuela with support from members of the Climate Alliance.
The increasing number of small municipalities joining the Climate Alliance is recognized through a series of special seminars. The issue of monitoring progress remains a regular feature on the Climate Alliance agenda, and additional indicators beyond CO2 values are incorporated into monitoring methodology.
1997
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 1997 in Bonn: Chris Zydeveld (Dutch National Steering Group of Local Agenda 21) Michael Teske (City of Leipzig), Gotelind Alber (Climate Alliance Director) und Marjan Minnesma (Dutch Agency for Energy and Environment NOVEM) |
Executive Board: José Luis González (COICA, Venezuela), Tom Koenigs (Frankfurt am Main, Germany), Karl-Ludwig Schibel (Città di Castello, Italy), Jaap Warners (Gouda, Netherlands), Christiana Dolezal (Linz, Austria), António Jacanamijoy (COICA, Colombia)
With the forthcoming UN Climate Conference in Kyoto, the issue of international climate policy is at the top of the agenda at this year's General Assembly of the Climate Alliance in Bonn. Other themes include opportunities for cooperation with cities in Central and Eastern Europe, and linking climate protection activities with Local Agenda 21 processes.
A European coordination body is set up, consolidating cooperation between the European Secretariat and the national coordination and liaison structures which have now been established in seven countries to provide direct advice and support to members.
A representative from Venezuela joins the European Secretariat for two years with the task of intensifying cooperation with the indigenous peoples and publicizing forest protection campaigns in Venezuela.
The EU-funded project "Concerted Action on Local Climate Protection in Europe" is launched in conjunction with the national coordination offices in order to develop municipal climate protection methodologies further.
At the UN Climate Conference in Kyoto in autumn, the Climate Alliance launches its first status report on "Local Authority Contributions to Climate Protection", which presents the intensity and scope of local authority activities to an international public for the first time. In advance of the Conference, 100 case studies of municipal best practice in the field of climate protection are unveiled.
1996
In spring, the Climate Alliance membership reaches 500 cities, municipalities and district authorities, totalling 35 million inhabitants. The Climate Alliance creates its own website, thus acquiring an Internet presence for the first time.
This year's General Assembly takes place in Linz, Austria. It is dominated by the issue of tropical timber certification, which is discussed with representatives of the indigenous partner organizations from Amazonia and experts from the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). The debate about the CO2 reduction target within the Climate Alliance is intensified, and ways of linking it with administrative reform are explored. The Assembly adopts resolutions on the policies of Brazil and Venezuela towards their indigenous communities and on recommendations – drafted by the CO2 Reduction Strategies in the Climate Alliance Panel – for action to promote energy-saving in construction and housing.
Oil exploration and extraction, a major threat to tropical forests in many regions, is discussed in partnership with the indigenous organizations. In addition to funding individual projects being run by COICA, a legal aid fund is established.
The coordinating office of Car-Free Mobility Day, the German forerunner of the Europe-wide "In Town, Without My Car" day, is set up in the European Secretariat.
1995
After the entry into force of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, agreed at Rio in 1992, the first session of the Conference of the Parties (COP) takes place in Berlin – a chance to move climate protection further up the public agenda. In parallel, the Climate Alliance holds its General Assembly in Berlin, where it reports on progress achieved in municipal climate protection so far and adopts the Climate Alliance Declaration Berlin 95 on the role of cities and municipalities in climate protection.
After the CO2 Reduction Strategies in the Climate Alliance Panel has drafted recommendations on monitoring progress in the Climate Alliance, members are urged to produce the first climate protection reports. Cooperation and an exchange of experience are promoted through computer networking, at this stage via a dedicated mailbox. The Climate Alliance prepares a manual on environmental and development policy education.
In the partnership with the indigenous peoples, the themes of biodiversity and intellectual property rights are taken up, and an initial study on the indigenous peoples' concepts of property and the relevant legal bases in the Amazonian states is undertaken.
1994
Executive Board: José Luis González (COICA, Venezuela), Tom Koenigs (Frankfurt am Main, Germany), Erich Haider (Linz, Austria), Jaap Warners (Gouda, Netherlands), Edmundo Vargas (COICA, Ecuador), Karl-Ludwig Schibel (Città di Castello, Italy)
The General Assembly takes place in Trento in spring. Taking "Climate Protection with Empty Coffers" as its theme, it explores ways of linking global climate protection with local benefits such as cost savings, reducing pollution, and job creation.
Various representatives of indigenous peoples travel around Europe, facilitating direct contacts and deepening partnership. At the start of the UN's International Decade of the World's Indigenous People, the Climate Alliance takes up the issue of indigenous rights.
The Climate Alliance starts work on its first EU-funded research project, "Climate Protection Strategies of Local Authorities in Europe". Based on a comprehensive survey of municipal and national climate protection programmes, recommendations for local authorities and governments are developed. One outcome is the first version of the Climate Alliance Catalogue of Measures as a checklist for members.
1993
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 1992 or 1993 in the city hall ‘Römer’: Andreas von Schoeler (Lord Mayor of the city of Frankfurt am Main), Evaristo Nugkuag (Climate Alliance Committee) signs the Golden Book of the city, Lioba Rossbach de Olmos (Climate Alliance employee) |
The Climate Alliance is formally recognized as a non-profit organization. The European Secretariat begins work in Frankfurt am Main. National and regional liaison offices are established in Austria, while the Dutch members set up a national association, membership of which is linked to membership of the European association. A network of liaison offices and support organizations starts to take shape.
This year's General Assembly is held in Enschede in autumn; its theme is "Local Agenda 21". Several resolutions are adopted, notably on European energy policy, support for ILO Convention No. 169 concerning Indigenous and Tribal Peoples, and on formulating the Climate Alliance's CO2 reduction target more precisely. The climate protection target is defined more rigorously and supplemented by commitments to monitor and report on progress. Members establish the CO2 Reduction Strategies in the Climate Alliance Panel in order to prepare appropriate recommendations.
1992
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 1992 in Berlin: Dr. Karl-Ludwig Schibel and José Luis Gonzáles during an event about the 500th centenary of the “discovery” of America |
Executive Board: Evaristo Nugkuag Ikanan (COICA, Peru), Tom Koenigs (Frankfurt am Main, Germany), Josef Ackerl (Linz, Austria), J. G. H. Hoijtink (Ede, Netherlands), Edmundo Vargas (COICA, Ecuador), Karl-Ludwig Schibel (Città di Castello, Italy)
By now, 123 towns and cities have adopted the Manifesto.
In March, the founding meeting of the Climate Alliance Association (Verein Klima-Bündnis / Alianza del Clima) is held in Freiburg im Breisgau. Delegates from 16 cities in Austria, Germany, Italy and Netherlands are authorized to sign the founding declaration on their cities' behalf. The Association's objectives are closely modelled on the Manifesto.
The member municipalities draft their first climate protection profiles and action programmes and discuss how the Climate Alliance goal of halving CO2 emissions should be interpreted, and how progress towards this goal can be measured.
1991
At a meeting in Graz for municipalities which have signed the Climate Alliance Manifesto, the Climate Alliance is presented to Europe's public. Various environmental and development groups organize regional or national campaigns to encourage cities to join the Alliance.
With support from several member cities, a manual on alternatives to tropical timber is produced. The indigenous partners submit a number of project proposals, and members pledge initial financial contributions. The funding from the EU allows the first serie of seminars on climate protection in the energy sector.
1990
In August, delegates from six Amazonian indigenous organizations and representatives of 12 municipalities from Germany, Austria and Switzerland and 15 organizations and institutions come together for a working meeting in Frankfurt am Main. They adopt the Manifesto of European Cities on an Alliance with Amazonian Indian Peoples and agree a comprehensive work programme outlining possible joint projects with the rainforest peoples and basic principles for municipal climate protection programmes. The Climate Alliance is born! Frankfurt City Council's Environment Office takes on the coordinating role at first.