European Mayors at the forefront of the fight against environmental degradation

The Manifesto of European Mayors, led by Madame Anne Hidalgo, the Mayor of Paris, on "Climate Change: European commitment and local solutions" is not only an excellent initiative but, due to the Paris Summit next December, particularly timely.

With the crisis on its death throes of globalizing neoliberalism, they are forgetting the urgent intergenerational responsibilities and, rather than paying particular attention to ecological transgressions, especially considering that can be reached no returning points, the "markets" transformed the citizens in impassive and stunned spectators. The "risk premium" in a monetary European Union that is now unable to construct a political and economic union, occupies the scene as nearly exclusive protagonist.

Ensuring our legacy to future generations is the main commitment of "We, the peoples..." that before long, led by the scientific, academic, artistic, ... intellectual communities, they will rebel against a system that invests billions of dollars a day on weapons and military expenditures while thousands of people are starving, mostly children from one to five years of age, and 80% of humanity lives outside the areas inhabited by the "welfare society”.

Already in 1979 the Academy of Sciences of the United States reported that carbon dioxide emissions were not only increasing but its recapture by the oceans -the lungs of the Earth- was decreasing. Large consortia led by Exxon Mobile reacted quickly creating a foundation in 1981 and, through pseudo-scientists hired, tried to counteract the warnings of the Academy. Until 2007 was not notified in Newsweek ("The Truth of Denial") the shameful, guilty and irresponsible proceeding of whom greed prevents seeing beyond their immediate benefits.

But fortunately, people can already express and the invisible and obedient subjects are becoming citizens able to participate and mobilize in a popular outcry in favour of a worthy legacy to future generations’ life.

Yes: as stated in the Manifesto, a progressive replacement of the current urban transport by another which involves a progressive decrease in fuel (electric cars, cable cars, suburban) and heating and cooling from renewable energy sources is essential.

The European Union, which is giving so bad examples in recent years, with harassment of neoliberalism that has reached unbelievable limits (naming without polls, governments in Italy and Greece, the cradle of democracy), it would give now good guidelines to follow throughout the world if take into account the agreements reached by the European Mayors, expressed in this Manifesto. And with the United Nations, which necessary participation is precisely requested in the text, expediting a great consensus on a global level.

Bravo, Madame the Mayor! As a scientist and former Director General of UNESCO, whose headquarters is in Paris and that has worked since the fifties in the geological, hydrological, oceanographic aspects and, in general, the biosphere, I want to express my total adhesion, applicable to all mayors who have signed the Manifesto. And the best wishes for the Summit that will be held in Paris next December that should not continue disappointing the fair expectations of the world community. Humanity as a whole aims to enjoy, finally, of appropriate conditions of life.

All Mayors should adhere to this Manifesto!