The pandemic has highlighted the vulnerability of our planet: our ecosystems have shown their limits and vulnerabilities. Humankind had reinforced a sense of its capacity to unite for a same cause, a same feeling of vulnerability in front of the invisible challenge that is affecting life on the planet.
 
The planet boundaries have been exceeded, and the climate emergency is on the brink of a point of no return. Climate change has always marked the important era changes on the planet. However, human-linked development has never been so intense, nor so quick, regarding the use of the planetary resources. Time and emergency go hand in hand, and while change has always been a rule on the planet, the speed of human transformation is being so quick that the double effect on the planet is making action more urgent than ever.
 
The axis of Planet means ensuring that, as the world transforms its relationship with nature in unprecedented ways, local and regional governments are at the forefront to promote a new view for our common future – one that goes beyond the ecological transition and towards an ecological transformation.
 
Local and regional governments must embody a vision that moves from obtaining the resources that we need from nature to protecting its biodiversity, its oceans, its air, and its land and subsoil.
 
A vision committed to action, to define and deliver on ever-ambitious commitments that address the climate emergency while connecting the planetarian and social dimensions of the ecological crisis. A vision that transcends the business as usual in the transition towards zero carbon and local resilience and advocates for a radical change. And a vision that conceives these measures both from an emergency and a long-term perspective. To reinvigorate the economy through sustainable, inclusive, and environmentally-aware models of production and consumption once we enter the recovery phase, and foster a fair and equal distribution of the benefits of climate action and resilience building.
 
We understand that the planet is not only a resource but very much part of our societies, fostering a different understanding of how we interact with it. With the goal of changing the way we organise our consumption and production patterns. Local and regional governments have a big role to play in as they can raise awareness, they can define how territories consume and produce. In the inter-urban system, there is a strong role for intermediary cities as hubs of service-provision so we go beyond an ecological transition for an ecological transformation with intermediary cities at the heart of it. This is why it is necessary to think of development, economy and ecology in a different way, and to consider cities as motors of their environment. It is necessary to have a will to be more mindful of climate measures, of green perspectives when defining projects and programmes.
 
By defining our commitments toward sustainability and resilience, we will remain committed to pursuing the necessary global ecological transformation, especially in view of the renewed threats that we are facing. From our position as a municipal movement, we will contribute to raising the ambition of our efforts to tackle the climate emergency and contribute to the sustainability and resilience of our planet.
 
Faced with the challenge of the climate emergency, environmental degradation and biodiversity, we must face profound transformations in our models of production, consumption, transport, housing, and tourism, among others. The Planet axis of the Pact will be based on the Universal Declaration of Humankind Rights as well as UCLG Position Papers on Ecological Transition and Global Resilience and the outcome documents of the World Forum on Intermediary Cities and the Forum of Regions.

The future that we want calls for a shift in the perception of our life systems, towards an ecological harmonious relation between humanity and nature. Cities and territories need to take into consideration the right of current and also future generations to enjoy a healthy, sustainable and livable planet. As local governments and regions are engaged towards building global resilience, it is important to explore urban-rural linkages and the integration of the broader ecosystems of intermediary cities, metropolises, regions and territories.
 
To carry out a true ecological transformation, it is critical to look at the planet not only from a nature perspective but from a social perspective too. This calls for looking systemically at how we interact with the planet, with the aim of developing a system of intermediary, large and small cities that are linked with the territories. Developing a culture of ecology will only be possible through the empowerment of intermediary cities, developing the rural-urban linkages and developing a renewed relationship with nature. Only then will we carry out the necessary action to curb the climate emergency, protect the global commons and ensure decent livelihoods for future generations.
 
The transition must be holistic and have an organic dimension, as life itself. As such, the integrated answer to the challenges should be undertaken around the principles of life and resilience. Ecological transition aims to bring us to ecological resilience: on a planet whose resources are taken care of, we need to develop livelihoods, offer a shelter to all human beings, in respect of nature rhythms and cycles, specificities and needs.

This focus on systemic ecological transformation also extends to our perspectives on resilience. Resilience goes beyond disasters and hard infrastructure but also resilience to social shocks: inequalities, pandemics, migrant crises, the social, ecological, governance and economic aspects of resilience.
 
The resilience of the planet cannot be approached without targeting both the local and global dimension: the local dimension is linked to the local/territorial policies and efforts, which includes policy measures and action, Climate Action Plans, restoration of lands and conservation, natural resources management, local economic empowerment and smart food strategies, waste management, accessible and clean water drinking. The global dimension is linked to the global policy-making and advocacy. It builds on the sum of all efforts made towards ecological transition, as well as recovery after disasters. In this sense, there is a need to seek unity for ecological resilience.
 
As the global climate emergency called us on keeping global warming of 1.5 °C above pre-industrial levels, UCLG rallies leadership and support from cities, territories, businesses and civil society to promote a shift towards a decarbonized economy that prevents future threats, creates decent jobs, protects heritage, and unlocks inclusive and sustainable growth. Local and regional governments are joining this initiative, under the Race to Zero, to reach net zero in the 2040s or sooner, or by mid-century.

Food has always been high on the agenda of territorial cohesion and intermediary cities, and it is now reaching the broader membership. A food systems approach is becoming increasingly relevant for local and regional governments around the world because it connects many different pressing social issues: poverty and inequality including access to food and to healthy diets, public health, new modalities of urban planning, cultural expressions, climate and ecology. The effects of the pandemic also call for refocusing on the right to sufficient, adequate, nutritious and sustainable food.
 
The impact of the crisis has put even more pressure on economic recovery and mitigation and adaptation to climate change. As we address the fragile and dependent consumption models of many cities, and of delocalized and unsustainable production systems, it will also be essential to rethink and rebalance the relationship between economic growth, the environment and public priorities.
 
We look at food systems through two lenses: developing an integrated approach to food systems through linking the right to food and local public service provision; and a governance aspect, ensuring that local and regional governments are considered in decisions around food systems in order to guarantee social inclusion and prosperity, and boosting solidarity, setting people’s wellbeing and aspirations at the heart of improved food systems.

Our perspectives on tourism and how it relates to our systems needs to change, and in particular after the pandemic. Our views on an ecological transformation call on us to readdress how we experience tourism beyond a mass phenomenon, and empower local and regional governments to harness it as a sustainable tool for economic recovery and social cohesion. The future of tourism needs to be aligned with the universal development agendas; co-created between public and private actors; and providing a balance between economic growth, the needs of our planet, and public priorities.