On 14 December 2020, Co-Chairs of the GCoM Board, Michael Bloomberg and Frans Timmermans, welcomed Lord Mayor of Hobart, Anna Reynolds and Mayor Rosy Senanayake of Colombo, Sri Lanka as new members of the GCoM Board. 

Lord Mayor Reynolds will be a voice for the GCoM cities in Oceania, home to more than six million residents. Oceania has been hit hard by impacts of global climate breakdown, including record-breaking bushfires and sea level-rise. In Oceania, more than 100 local councils have declared a climate emergency and the number is rising.

Under Mayor Reynolds’ leadership, Hobart has committed to becoming a zero-emissions city. The Council has already reduced emissions 87% below 2000 levels and will reduce its emissions by a further 20%. The City of Hobart will also achieve 100% net renewable electricity by 2040 and will work collaboratively with residents and businesses over the next two years to set a city-wide zero emissions target. Hobart also has a target to see zero waste going into landfill by 2030.

“It is an honour to join the Board of the Global Covenant of Mayors and to sit with Mayors from cities around the world,” said Anna Reynolds, Lord Mayor of Hobart. “Cities are facing more frequent and severe climate change-induced disasters, and action has never been more urgent. Together, with the Global Covenant’s more than 10,000 mayors, we will work towards a green recovery that starts in cities.”

In addition to this new global role, Lord Mayor Reynolds is also an ICLEI Regional Executive Committee member and GCoM Oceania Committee member, providing expertise and guidance to ICLEI and GCoM’s regional activities. 

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Follow Lord Mayor Reynolds on Twitter: @AnnaReyno

Follow GCoM on Twitter: @Mayors4Climate