The group brings politicians, scientist, businesses and regional networks together to improve climate and climate protection by working out solutions together. The R20 initiative was founded in 2010 and works closely together with the United Nations, international finance institutes and regional networks.

According to the initiative its main plan is to offer a communication platform to connect the different parties and and present „best practice projects“ to instigate new projects. During the debates and information events of the summit, there were talks about financing possibilities for climate projects, about strategies and examples for successful projects and and why the environment is also important for businesses. Beside the international prominent guests, a Bonn politican attended.

Lord Mayor Ashok Sridharan posted a picture on his Facebook page, showing him sitting beside California’s former governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. He took part in a panel discussion about sustainability in cities. As the city council announced, the federal ministry for education and research suggested for the lord mayor to take part in the conference.

The lord mayor also met the Austrian chancellor Christian Kern, and the patron of the conference, Alexander Van der Bellen. Local and regional initiatives to develop the sustainability goals of the United Nations and the climate targets of the Paris agreement were focused on during the meeting. Bonn’s lord mayor contributed by presenting the role of local and regional players in global agendas and brought a few examples from Bonn.

He explained how the measures to support renewable energy and climate projects, which Bonn runs with its twin cities La Paz in Bolivia and Cape Coast in Ghana, boost sustainability. Sridharan also presented the strategic research and innovation agenda „Zukunftsstadt“ („Future City“), founded by the federal ministry for education and research and implemented by the city of Bonn amongst others. He also invited the attendees to the climate summit in Bonn in November.

Due to the fact that Sridharan is also vice president of the ICLEI (Local Governments for Sustainability), he continues the exchange with the OSCE, which the ICLEI president had begun in March. Sridharan encouraged OSCE general secretary Lamberto to work closer together when it comes to risk management and security. Original text: ga Translation: Mareike Graepel