DUBAI: Maria Bagreeva, Moscow Government Minister and Head of the Moscow Department of Economic Policy and Development, underscored the critical role of collaboration between city governments and residents in tackling climate change.

Speaking to the Emirates News Agency (WAM) on the sidelines of COP28, Bagreeva highlighted that cities, as hubs of economic activity, have a significant impact on the global climate.

“The majority of the world’s population resides in large cities, and their impact on the environment is substantial,” she added.

During COP28, Bagreeva presented the inaugural Urban Climate Agenda Report, a joint initiative of the Moscow Government and M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University. This research employs a unique methodology to assess and compare the efforts undertaken by city governments to address climate change.

The Minister emphasized that greenhouse gas emissions are a major driver of climate change. She explained that the study evaluates cities based on their performance in five ke
y categories responsible for most greenhouse gas emissions: energy sources, energy consumption, transportation, green spaces, and waste management.

Bagreeva highlighted that the report ranks 20 major cities worldwide, located across various regions, to provide a comprehensive assessment of their capacity to combat climate change.

“This research is crucial for us, as Moscow actively pursues its own climate agenda,” Bagreeva stated.

She further noted that this research could prove valuable to the academic community and municipal authorities as it offers an analysis of best practices that can be incorporated into climate strategies and facilitates the evaluation of existing measures.
Source: Emirates News Agency