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I'm here with the chairman of C forty Cities, a group that's very active here in the early days of this COP thirty summit. Let me start by asking about the role of mayors in this conversation. We in the US know well that the President has expressed more than skepticism about climate chain. I noticed there you go. What's the role of mayors here and how do you see this conversation evolving over the next three weeks.
Well, there's a huge amount of energy and dynamism and hope here in rear because this is also a gathering of C forty the world Miss sum It's taking place in Rio, and we've got great story to tell about how in cities across the globe, including some states in the USA, we've been tackling the climate emergency, creating great jobs, improving air quality, and showing that we are the doers at a time and many national leaders are the delayers and the deniers.
It's always a parlor game of how big a Camp thirty is going to be set the expectations for us in terms of what we will get out of this at the end of it.
Well, I'm hoping that over the next three days, the energy, the dynamism, the optimism from mayors leads into from Rio to Blem. So the presidents and the prime ministers who are coming to blem will see examples of success stories. Yeah, by the way, we don't just deliver, we win elections again and again and again, and that'll give them a sort of encouragement to go much further this year a cop,
it's really important. Why across the globe you're seeing heat waves, you're seeing wildfires, you're seeing flooding, You're seeing people concerned about the consequences of this emergency. You're not just in the global South like yesteryear, but in the global North, in the USA, in the UK, across mainland your brother, the public is demanding now much more of our national politicians.
Your message to the British government UK government was this can't be the Ed Milliban show. It can't just be the energy secretary talking about climate It has to be something that labor priority the government takes up in earnest What is your message to them in full about how they should be looking at this event and the all of climate change and in their conversation their policy conversations.
More broadly, while I'm really pleased and proud, proud, and unlike some countries, my national leader is here, and it's really will be Ca Starman will be here, the properncy will be here. He does not think the climate change catastrophe is a scam. He does believe the science really important. But also it's really important that he's here because it sends a message. We take it seriously. What I want to do is turn this crisis into an opportunity. But
also it's going to be a joint endeavor. It should be everyone in government. The new homes we need to build, they should be energy efficient. They should be building in a way that they are cooler in summer, warmer in winter. But all's help with people's bilds by being energy efficient. I want us to think about what is the future of work with AI, with automation, with factories closing down.
I think there are jobs in terms of building the wind turbines, building the solar panels, building electric buses, building electric cars, installing the charging points. And that's why I think this is an opportunity and loot these fossil fuels we've used to our benefit. Individually and societies for children years. But it's caused real damage to the environment. There are alternatives now, whether it's solo, whether it's nuclear, whether it's a wind, we should be invested in those.
I come from New York where we're hearing an awful lot about London. It's being charactured and stereotyped in the context of this mayoral race by the president, by one of the candidates from mayor as well. It's been portrayed as a place that's out of control, a lot of crime, there's a heavy amount of Islamophobia in there as well. What's your response to that, the way that London is being used as sort of something held up in the New York mayor old campaign.
But first, I've got some friends who are in New York, and I think New York is the second greatest city in the Well. Look, there's a reason why there are some people hate London and hate New York. There's a reason why they demonize London and now indeed New York. Why Because we are progressive cities, We are liberal cities,
we are multicultural cities, and were incredibly successful. We are the antithesis of nativist, populist commentators and politicians, and I think, listen, the fact that in New York you may elect somebody who's a Muslim is neither here nor there. It's what are his policies, what are his vision? What does you
want to do for the people of New York? And I think, listen, it says more about the people criticizing, you know, Zora Mundani's ethnicity and faith says more about them, and you know what they're all about that it says about him.
You spoke with him after the Democratic primary, and I wonder if you could kind of characterize what that conversation was like. You say, it's neither here nor there that he could be the first Muslim mayor of New York. And I'll go with your hierarchy, London to New York, these two major major cities. What did you tell them about what that is like? You're the first Muslim mayor of London, what that means.
Conversations with others are our private conversations. But I'm quite clear, when you are from a city like London or New York, I think the greatest honor and the greatest privilege is to be the leader of that city. I've had many great jobs in my life that I've thoroughly enjoyed. There is no greater job than being the mayor of your city. I've seen from Afar the campaign that Zora Mundani has run. He appears to be having fun, he appears to be connecting.
He's doing something that I know a lot about, which is reaching parts of your city that are undiscernd, reaching people that hitherto feel as if politics isn't for you. Understand that actually, you know, sometimes cities aren't fair. Sometimes in a city you've got two separate tales taking place. And what's important is for you to be authentic, and whether you're in New York or London or other parts
of the globe, is to be true to yourself. That I'm looking forward seeing the results in the next couple days, actually see what.
Happens with your mayorality. And perhaps there is an element of being the mayor of London or in New York that is a global responsibility. You're here in Brazil. How much of that is a surprise to you, and which do you think about the role of London on the global stage.
But the reality is when you are from a global city, when you are a leader of that global city. Your audience really importantly are your constituents, but also it's the globe because the world's eyes are on London. The world's eyes indeed are on New York. That is a huge privilege, but it comes with a huge responsibility. So I've never campaigned to be a Muslim mayor. I don't use those sort of words. I have a mayor Muslim, but I recognize and this is just a fact of life. There
are some people who may not a better Muslim. There are some people who only see things in movies or when they're here from presidents, and I want to address some of the fairs people have. Sometimes because I have a Muslim, I recognize sometimes people prejudge what it means to be a Muslim, so not by choice, but almost by duty. Sometimes I sometimes use my role to explain we aren't the boogeyman. We are just like you. We
were the same ambitions and aspirations as you. I'd never asked for that responsibility, but I recognize as the leader of a great city, as a proud brit a proud Englishman, a proud Londoner, but also a proud Muslim, I'm more than happy to talk about my faith and what it means, and I'm sure you'll see if Zara mam Nani does win, mum Donah doing the same, not because he necessarily wants to, but because he recognizes that our religion has been demonized.
I think we both would recognize that actually a small minority of people who claim to follow our religion off and some bad stuff that doesn't represent the more than two billion people on this planet who are Muslims.
Last question, kind of playing off of this in New York in this campaign, there is a lot of warning from a lot of wealthier New Yorker is saying that people will leave the city where he'd win if the city were to get too progressive as they see, and we had Nigel Farajishween the same warning in London today that there is a chance that people who are of means in London might have left to lead if we go farther to the left. There. Your response to that warning or that proposed trend.
Well, firstly, I've got no idea whether that is the case, whether that or will happen. If that is the case, come to London. I'm going to run at the red carpet and welcome you to London. I think the reality is New York's a great city. I hope ne York continues to flourish and thrive. Of course, like London, we have challenges, but the joy of being the marriage you work with everyone across your city. I campaigned to be
a mayor for all Londoners. Yes, I campaign for those who live in deprived communities, those who desperately need social housing, those who are facing the consequences of cost of live in crisis. But also recognizing that I, as a politician, don't create the wealth. I don't create the jobs. But working with the private sector, working with all Londoners, you can do a great job.