Cop27 1

The 27th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 27) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is underway in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt. The focus of this COP is to move from negotiations and planning to implementation. This page provides updates on the work and commitments of EPP-CoR members at COP27.

EPP-led cities and regions are calling on national governments and international organisations to fully support local and regional authorities in the implementation of climate policies as it's them delivering climate action on the ground. Cities and regions worldwide are having a growing role in delivering climate action according to the latest IPCC report. Political will is not lacking either - as the presence of a large variety of local and regional governments at COP27 demonstrates, often with higher climate commitments than their national governments. However, subnational governments still lack a formal role in global climate negotiations and in the implementation of the Paris climate agreement. Reinforcing multi-level cooperation, direct funds and technical assistance for subnational governments and a global system to collect and monitor cities’ and regions’ carbon emission reductions are amongst the key claims subnational governments are fighting for at COP27.

EPP-CoR delegation at COP27

As part of the delegation of the European Union and member of the LGMA (Local Governments and Municipal Authorities) constituency, which represents local governments and municipalities worldwide, the European
Committee of the Regions is attending COP27 to continue advocating a formal role for subnational governments in international climate governance and the implementation of the Paris Agreement.​ The EPP-CoR delegation present in Sharm el-Sheikh in Egypt consists of:

 

 

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  • Rafał Trzaskowski, Mayor of Warsaw (Poland), Member of the Political Board of the Covenant of Mayors – Europe, CoR Rapporteur on ‘Amending the Energy Efficiency Directive to meet the new 2030 climate targets’.
  • Olgierd Geblewicz, President of the EPP-CoR Group, President of West Pomerania Region, Poland, CoR Rapporteur on ‘The CoR’s role in boosting subnational climate diplomacy ahead of COP27 and COP28’
  • Juan Manuel Moreno Bonilla, President of the Regional Government of Andalusia (Spain) I would put RT and OG first and then JuanMa, as Rafal is the ENVE Chair and Olgierd a rapporteur, and it would be strange to put Olgierd as EPP President as the last one.

In his first comments in Egypt, Olgierd Geblewicz said "The COP27 Climate Summit in Sharm El-Sheikh is an important event for local and regional authorities. In many areas, energy efficiency, clean transport, water and waste management, we are on the front line."

 

 

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Main activities in which EPP-CoR members are engaged during COP27

  •  Saturday, 12 November​

11.00-12.00 (Egypt time), 10.00-11.00 (CET), online. Resilient communities – Shaping and achieving the Global Goal on Adaptation through subnational action. Side event organised by the European Committee of the Regions. Recent findings show that climate change risks to cities, settlements and key infrastructure will rapidly rise in the mid- and long-term with further global warming. The side-even took a look at how resilient communities can be the building block for developing resilience on a global scale.

with Markku MARKKULA, Vice-president of the CoR, President of the Helsinki Region (Finland) and Dimitrios KARNAVOS, Mayor of Kallithea (Greece)

  • Monday, 14 November

12.30-13.30 (Egypt time), 11.30-12.30 (CET), EU Pavilion and online. Energy efficiency as a valuable resource – Boosting energy performance of the economy and renovating buildings. The crucial role played by energy efficiency and energy savings in industry, buildings, public sector and products will make the core of the session. Structured in the context of the REPowerEU plan, speakers shared concrete cases for both short-medium and long-term energy saving measures. With the participation of Commissioner Kadri SIMSON. 

Rafał TRZASKOWSKI, Mayor of Warsaw (Poland) and chair of CoR ENVE commission.

 

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"We need to re-think the current energy and climate governance, bringing together national, local and regional governments. This is key to reduce dependency, decarbonise our buildings, tackle energy poverty and contribute to achieving the Paris Agreement goals." - Rafał TRZASKOWSKI

 

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16.30-17.15 (Egypt time), 15.30 – 17.15 (CET), LGMA Pavilion. Meeting with Lidia Pereira, Member of the European Parliament, EPP co-rapporteur of the EP resolution on The 2022 UN Climate Change Conference in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt to discuss the role of local and regional authorities in implementing the climate policies on the ground and how this can be reflected in the COP27 conclusions. 

  • Tuesday, 15 November

13.30-14.15 (Egypt time), 12.30-13.15 (CET). Meeting with Ukrainian NGO Razom We Stand. The CoR delegation met Svitlana Romanko to discuss the sustainable reconstruction of Ukraine.

13.30-15.00 (Egypt time), 12.30-14.00 (CET), hybrid, LGMA Pavilion and online. Cities stepping up to the energy crisis: launching the Energy Access and Poverty Pillar of the Global Covenant of Mayors (GCoM) Common Reporting Framework. This session launched the GCoM Common Reporting Framework, which will allow cities and local governments to measure, track progress, and act on the energy access and/or poverty needs of their communities. It also highlighted opportunities for city and local government action in the just energy transition that complements national government efforts and policies.

Rafał TRZASKOWSKI, Mayor of Warsaw (Poland), chair of CoR ENVE commission

 

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"Local authorities are best placed to reach out to citizens and businesses and motivate them to take energy-saving actions or to invest in energy-efficiency measures." - Rafał TRZASKOWSKI

15.00-16.30 (Egypt time), 14.00-15.30 (CET), LGMA Pavilion. Global Covenant of Mayors Multilevel Climate Action Playbook. Presentation of the second edition of the Climate Action Playbook and discussion on how can local governments best support multilevel climate action either using examples from the Playbook and other partner publications or activities. CoR member taking part: 

Olgierd GEBLEWICZ, President of West Pomerania Region (Poland)

 

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"We need to take into account horizontal multilateralism. At the local andregional level, cooperation with the private sector, civil society and academia should ensure a permanent and just transition towards Climate Neutrality and resilience." - Olgierd GEBLEWICZ

18.00-18.45 (Egypt time), 17.00-17.45 (CET). Briefing with European Commission EVP Frans Timmermans

Briefing to the CoR, European Parliament and EESC delegations on the state of the negotiations at COP27.

19.00-21.00 (Egypt time), 18.00-20.00 (CET). Networking event Under2Coalition. The Networking reception was part of the activities organized by the Action for Climate Empowerment Hub (ACE Hub) to support the implementation of the Glasgow work programme on ACE.

  • Wednesday, 16 November

10.30-11.15 (Egypt time), 9.30-10.15 (CET). Bilateral meeting with Resilience Rising Global and Global Covenant of Mayors (tbc). Meeting with Amanda Eichel from Resilience Rising Global and Andy Deacon from the Global Covenant of Mayors to see how the CoR could be involved in the Summary report for urban policy makers of IPCC.

Olgierd GEBLEWICZ, President of West Pomerania Region (Poland), EPP group; 

11.30-12.00 (Egypt time), 10.30-11.00 (CET). Bilateral meeting with the Czech Presidency Delegation. The CoR delegation conveyed its political messages to be taken into account in the final conclusions of the COP.

13.45-14.45 (Egypt time), 12.45-13.45 (CET), hybrid, LGMA Pavilion and online. Cities Race to Zero one year on: driving climate action now. The Race to Zero is a global campaign to rally leadership and support from businesses, cities, regions, and investors for a healthy, resilient, zero carbon recovery that prevents future threats, creates decent jobs, and unlocks inclusive, sustainable growth.

14.30-15.30 (Egypt time), 13.30-14.30 (CET). Meeting with COP27 Presidency Youth Envoy Omnia el Omrani. The CoR delegation exchanged with Omnia EL OMRANI on the youth priorities and requests for COP27.

18.00-19.00 (Egypt time) 17.00-18.00 (CET).  CoR event with global climate networks. Event organised by the European Committee of the Regions. The CoR invited its main partners to join forces in a common political declaration on the road towards COP28.

  • Thursday, 17 November

12.00-13.00 (Egypt time), 11.00-12.00 (CET), online. Implementing Local Green Deals - implementing global ambitions at the local level. Side event organised by the European Committee of the Regions and DG GROW. DG GROW and the CoR present major cities' achievements towards their green transition and Local Green Deals, their evolution within the past year and their key factors for success, notably in engaging the local businesses and citizens in the collaborative process.

Ricardo RIO, Mayor of Braga (Portugal)

12.30-14.00 (Egypt time), 11.30-13.00 (CET), hybrid, EU Pavilion and online. Energy transition key insights from GCoM signatories. This high-level panel will feature the participation of policymakers, local leaders and business representatives portraying their joint efforts towards sustainable energy transition and emphasising the need for further action and support. The panel includes the participation of Frans Timmermans, Executive Vice President of the European Commission.

14.50-15.50 (Egypt time), 13.50-14.50 (CET), Japan Pavilion and online.  Leading Actions towards Zero Carbon Cities. In order to realize a decarbonized society, it is important to promote the decarbonization of cities, which account for about 70% of global emissions. Actions of local governments are critical, as they can motivate and coordinate actions of various stakeholders and sectors in an integrative way and according to local characteristics from the planning to the implementation stage.

17.00-18.00 (Egypt time) 16.00-17.00 (CET). Bilateral meeting with local councillors.

18.00-19.30 (Egypt time) 17.00-18.30 (CET). LGMA Global Townhall towards COP28. 

18.30-20.00 (Egypt time), 17.30-19.00 (CET), Blue Zone (Khufu 300) and online. Capacity building on green skills to improve local and regional climate policies. Presentation of cutting-edge green skills capacity building, resources and toolkits to enable politicians and organisations to meet global climate change commitments agreed through the COP process. Discussion will focus on applying green skills principles across international borders and economies.

Best practices

Best practices from the Region of Andalusia:

  • Electricity consumed in regional administration facilities in Andalusia is 100% renewable thanks to a new centralised electricity supply contract
  • The green budget: integrating the green approach into the budget along with a gender perspective in Andalusia
  • LIFE Agromitiga (transition to a low-carbon farming system, producing validated results which can be applied to the EU’s commitments under global climate alliances)
  • Promoting cycling tourism through Interreg programmes in a context of sustainable mobility
  • Electromove (increase the use of public transport and replace combustion engines with electric-based motors, with priority being given to electricity from renewable sources)
  • Granada Metropolitan Rail System
  • Cartuja eCity Project (Cartuja Island a 100% sustainable and decarbonised enclave by 2025, twenty-five years ahead of the UN 2050 energy and climate goals.)
  • Environmental and Energy Strategy in the Andalusian Health Service
  • Compensation projects under the Andalusian Emission Compensation System (SACE) – Blue Carbon
  • LIDAR sensors on board RPAs for control procedures
  • Mobile Mapping Sensor for aid certification
  • Calculation of the carbon footprint of the Regional Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Sustainable Development
  • Regional government support for municipal climate action in Andalusia
  • Improvements to the Andalusian Climate Change Portal
  • Improvements to the Andalusian Emissions Offsetting Scheme (SACE)
  • Drafting of the Andalusian Climate Action Plan
  • The Climate Journey (responsible tourism initiative, walking tours across cities and local areas, to see and understand the impacts, causes and connections between socio-environmental challenges due to climate crisis)

Learn from more best practices by visiting the following map: https://cor.europa.eu/EN/regions/Pages/eir-map.aspx?view=stories&type=greendeal

Background information

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