At some time it was suggested that Marcelo Ebrard Casaubón, the former mayor of Mexico City, would run for president in 2018. Though this is not likely now, it is possible that we’ll have the future Mexican minister of the Interior on stage at WDCD Live Amsterdam.
Mexican press reports that Ebrard recently met in California with Andrés Manuel López Obrador, leader of left-wing party Morena and the biggest contender of current president Enrique Peña Nieto. Rumour has it that López Obrador offered Ebrard the ministry of the Interior, should he win.
Whatever the future will bring, it is clear that we’ll have an influential political person on stage on 23 & 24 May in Amsterdam. Someone who can share a lot about the way politics work, especially when it comes to environmental action. In 2010 Ebrard was awarded the World Mayor prize in recognition of his environmental and civil-rights initiatives within Mexico City. Two years later, when Ebrard stepped down after six years in office as Mexico City’s mayor, he was heralded for making the city cleaner, safer, and more environmentally friendly.
Green Plan
During his time as mayor Ebrard changed a lot in the city. He ordered the development of attractive public spaces, including highly popular artificial urban beaches and ice-skating rinks, as an alternative for other forms of entertainment too expensive for the poor. He also installed a programme to reduce crime significantly.
Moreover, Ebrard is known for his Green Plan, which included a vast expansion of public transport, introduction of the bike-sharing program called Ecobici, and more. The plan resulted in reduction of Mexico City’s greenhouse gas emissions by 7.7 million metric tons between 2008 and 2012.
Global Cities Covenant
A World Mayors Summit on Climate Change in Mexico in 2010 under his leadership resulted in the Global Cities Covenant on Climate. This Mexico City Pact was signed by 250 cities across the globe.
After leaving office as mayor, Ebrard was elected President of the United Nations Global Network on Safer Cities, part of UN Habitat. For his distinguished contribution to society, he was also honoured by Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands in 2012, who named him a Grand Officer of the Order of Oranje-Nassau.
Want to hear Marcelo Ebrard speak? Come to WDCD Amsterdam Live. Buy you ticket now.