After two weeks of negotiations, the latest COP26 draft conclusions highlight the urgent need for multilevel and cooperative action. The reference was deleted in previous drafts, but reinserted after the European Committee of the Regions speaking on behalf of the Local Government Muncipalities Constituency - called for it to be included during the COP26 plenary session on 11 November, the cities and regions day. As Glasgow climate talks are expected to conclude today, latest drafts urge COP Parties to further integrate adaptation into local, national and regional planning and recognise the important role of non-Party stakeholders in contributing to the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement. Looking ahead to the COP27, a coalition of international networks representing cities and regions worldwide adopted today a political declaration in support of further strengthening multilevel collaboration as a prerequisite to limit temperature rise to 1.5° degrees by the end of the century.
In the political declaration, subnational governments call on the United Nations and the Parties of the Paris Climate Agreement to include a system of Regionally and Locally Determined Contributions (RLDCs) as a complement to Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) – the commitments made by each country to reduce emissions and tackle climate change. Progress reports from each country on their work towards meeting the goals set out in the 2015 Paris climate agreement should also include a section on climate commitments, actions and achievements undertaken by subnational governments. The full political declaration can be found here.
During his speech, Apostolos Tzitzikostas, the President of the European Committee of the Regions and Governor of the Region of Central Macedonia in Greece said "Local and regional governments deliver 70% of climate mitigation, and 90% of climate adaptation, yet still do not have a formal seat in the UN climate negotiations, nor were their views properly represented by the EU in Glasgow. This is legally, financially and democratically wrong. Without ownership, citizens living in regions, cities and villages cannot be expected to support such an over bureaucratic top-down process. The COP26 lacks not only ambition in climate targets, but realism in governance. It now falls to the world's sub-national governments to unite and make up for the national government failings".
Rafał Trzaskowski, Mayor of Warsaw (Poland), Rapporteur of the CoR opinion on the European Climate Pact and the Revision of the Energy Efficiency Directive and member of the political Board of the Covenant of Mayors and of C40, appealed to the UNFCCC to keep the multi-level and collaborative action as well as a reference to local and regional levels in the final conclusions of the COP26. More importantly, he stressed the urgent need to put well-functioning climate governance into practice. “Only by working together we can make our cities, villages, and municipalities more sustainable and more resilient”, said Mayor Trzaskowski in his remarks.
During the COP 26 event EPP local and regional leaders participated in different debates and showcased concrete projects on the ground that make a real difference in the every day life of citizens. They also highlighted the importance of engaging LRAs as they play a crucial role in tackling climate change.
Hanna Zdanowska, Mayor of Lodz talked about how climate action is an emergency and climate change a global threat. “What is key in the adaptation to climate change is not only the political commitment – which is there, but also appropriate funding and access to the know-how, latest technological developments, and innovative best practices that we can learn from. We, the local leaders, must receive appropriate funds to invest in innovative and integrated projects. I call here on the EU to grant local and regional leaders direct funds – to use them effectively in order to build more resilient communities.
Markku Markkula, member of the Espoo City Counci stressed the need to move a systemic change forward at the city and regional level and get every stakeholder and citizen on board, recalling it is undeniable that everyone sees how climate change is increasing affecting our daily lives. The CoR rapporteur on the opinion 'Forging a climate-resilient Europe - the new EU Strategy on Adaptation to Climate Change' presented the four cornerstones of Espoo's and the Helsinki region strategy towards climate neutrality, highlighting that the cultural and learning pillar is key and must accompany the economic, environmental and social strands of the transition.
Piotr Całbecki, President of the Kujawsko-Pomorskie Region, highlighted the importance of the circular economy in the framework of new laws and regional strategies for the benefit of future generations. “Today, when talking about the circular economy, we face global problems, and each region depending on its predispositions and limitations should take them into account in planning its development.”