City council votes to form a groundbreaking sister city relationship with Tocopilla, Chile
Welcome a new Sister City, Tocopilla, Chile!!
Lawrence, KS - The City Council of Lawrence, Kansas, voted Tuesday night, March 5, 2024, to establish a Sister City relationship with Tocopilla, Chile, opening an opportunity for the two communities to build upon traditional civic exchanges with a dedicated focus on environmental issues. The partnership between Lawrence and Tocopilla is one of the first of its kind, focusing on the mutual goal of achieving net-zero emissions and addressing the challenges of transitioning to net zero technologies and solutions. The U.S. Department of Energy’s Net Zero World Initiative program served as the catalyst for the new Sister City match, the fourth for Lawrence, and this collaboration highlights the importance of just energy transitions in communities worldwide, ensuring that the shift towards renewable energy sources supports local economic and social growth.
Just Transitions: The Lawrence-Tocopilla sister city agreement underscores the critical role of just energy transitions for communities moving toward net zero technologies for energy production. Both cities have ambitious sustainability goals and commitments to growing strong economies and developing strategies that minimize economic disruptions and promote job creation
Civic Exchanges: Fostering Education and Environmental Justice This unique partnership emphasizes the value of civic exchanges in promoting mutual understanding, educational opportunities, and joint efforts toward environmental justice. By sharing knowledge, resources, and experiences, the new Sister City match can empower citizens to participate in the global movement towards a cleaner source of energy and good stewardship of our environment.
Opening Education and Career Paths: One of the most important roles of the Lawrence Sister City program is the focus on expanding educational and study-abroad opportunities for high school students in Douglas County. For some time, the citizens of Lawrence have sought to include a Spanish-speaking country to meet the goals of students in the area. Adding Tocopilla, Chile will provide students with unparalleled exposure to building relationships with peers in Chile who aspire to pursue environmental careers and offer opportunities for students to develop friendships and enhance their academic and personal growth.
Connecting Cities to Work on Just Transitions: In celebrating this new relationship, Lawrence and Tocopilla are not just connecting two cities but bridging continents in a common vision on energy transitions. The concept for the proposed match originated with the U.S. Department of Energy's Net Zero World Initiative program, and leverages expertise of Lawrence expertise as educators, business owners, and environmentalists. This new match heralds a new era of civic engagement and environmental stewardship and has the potential to serves as a new model for Sister City programs for other communities around the globe that seek solutions to pressing environmental challenges.
For more information about the Lawrence Sister City program and the Lawrence -Tocopilla partnership, please visit https://www.sistercitieslawrence.org
About Lawrence Sister City Program: The Lawrence Sister City Program aims to foster international relationships through cultural, educational, and economic exchanges, creating a global community of understanding and cooperation.
About the Department of Energy's Net Zero World Initiative program: The U.S. Department of Energy's Net Zero World Initiative program supports international efforts to achieve net-zero emissions, providing technical expertise, policy guidance, and funding to accelerate the global transition to a clean energy economy. https://www.energy.gov/articles/us-launches-net-zero-world-initiative-accelerate-global-energy-system-decarbonization