Today, she is the first woman in charge of Paris, and one of Hidalgo main goals as a mayor, is to make Paris as a ‘greener’ city. Social housing has been made more energy efficient, pedestrian and cycle facilities have been enhanced and the tram and metro networks expanded.
She is also well known for her fight for environment, participative-democracy, determination to improve the lives of many disadvantaged people in the North of Paris, and to improve public services and descent care for migrants and homeless.
In her essay, mayor Hidalgo clearly defined two main goals: “In Paris, we have two priorities: on the one hand, ecological transition, which has become necessary due to the climatic emergency and one that we see as an opportunity to deeply transform ourselves, find meaning once again and live better lives; while on the other hand, the development of community spirit in order to fight against inequalities – economic, social, regional. Ever since my first job, as a health and safety inspector, I have been keenly sensitive to the imbalances that weaken the social fabric.”
In fact, her plan for improving the environment and housing won her the office. She has already extended bicycle and car-sharing programs, all but assured the pedestrianization of the Seine highway, and passed legislation to expand green spaces. Key environmental targets include phasing out diesel vehicles by 2020, making public transport electric by 2030, and ensuring the energy efficiency of public buildings by 2050.
In one of her statements, she also announced that the city of Paris is aiming to be “plastic free” by the 2024 Olympic Games, as part of a wider ecological pledge, in a bid to “accelerate the ecological transition” of the capital.
Today, the policies of Mayor Anne Hidalgo, who also chairs the C40 network, are an inspiration to cities around the world as they strive to rapidly reduce greenhouse gas emissions and clean the air that citizens breathe.