Despite the Basel legislature declaring a climate emergency, there has been a lack of concrete action. With our Climate Justice Initiative, we call for meaningful, effective and socially responsible climate action. To act on these demands is urgent – on the local and on the global level!

According to the Paris Climate Agreement of 2015, Switzerland is obligated to do its part to keep the average global temperature increase well below 1.5 °C. The reduction goals that have been set or planned, however, are nowhere near what scientists tell us is necessary. Stronger emission reduction goals are urgently needed.

Cities cause a lot of greenhouse gas emissions, but they also have the means to reduce these emissions quickly and effectively. We view Basel as part of a national and global movement of cities that lead the way and show what is possible. With this initiative Basel could join the track to carbon neutrality together with like-minded cities such as Adelaide, Oslo, and Copenhagen.

The climate crisis is hitting us hard, but people in the Global South (Africa, Asia, and Latin America) are being hit even harder. Basel is an innovative, prosperous, and globally connected city and as such has the moral obligation to do its share to protect the people worst affected by the climate crisis. Our wealth – which is based in large parts on the decade-long use of fossil fuels – means that we must take responsibility for the situation we have contributed to create.

To achieve carbon neutrality in Basel-Stadt will demand a huge effort by all its parts: state, economy, and society. This will require a lot of work, but the experiences made by other cities that have moved in this direction show that it is worth to do so: For the present but even more so for our collective future. Out of solidarity with coming generations to whom we want to leave a livable and just world.