EPP-CoR members engaged in a plenary debate on climate change ahead of the UN Climate Change Conference 2025 in Belém, Brazil (COP30). They emphasized the important role of Local and Regional Authorities (LRAs) in climate action and shared good practices from their regions, showcasing the impact of multi-level governance.
Local and Regional Authorities: Frontline Actors in Climate Policy
LRAs have a central role in climate mitigation, adaptation, and communication with citizens.
- Kostas Bakoyannis, Chair of the CoR ENVE Commission and Leader of the Opposition in Athens: "We are facing an existential crisis. Our responsibilities as local and regional authorities are high, and our voices must reach the highest level. The CoR has an important role to play."
- Markku Markkula, President of the Helsinki Region and Chair of the CoR GDGL Working Group: "Europe stands at a crossroads – we need a systematic transformation in which climate policy is at the heart. The citizens realise that more needs to be done at the political level. We need a resilient and strong single market and to boost research and innovation, as this is all linked to climate policy. The subnational level needs to play a crucial role in the upcoming negotiations on climate policy."
- Sari Rautio, EPP-CoR President: "All of us are affected by climate change, therefore we all need to act in order to combat this. LRAs stand at the frontline of the fight against the effects of climate change."
- Mirjam Sterk, Regional Minister of Utrecht: "I support the call to structurally involve regions in the development of national climate targets and adaptation plans. Climate policy only works when it is shaped and supported locally. Successful policies that are developed at the local level, with support from the EU, can serve as an inspiration for regions around the world. Regions are not merely implementers, but also create markets for innovative solutions. Only through regionally tailored financing can we effectively fulfil that driving role. EU funding targeted at regions is crucial in achieving this."
From Rhetoric to Action: Delivering Practical, People-Centered Solutions
Climate action must be multi-level, practical, and people-centered, moving beyond rhetoric.
- Rastislav Trnka, President of Košice Self-Governing Region:
"The world is no longer waiting for more targets, but for workable and financeable solutions. In our regions, we are proving that nature-based climate action—like restoring soil to retain rainwater—is both effective and measurable. COP30 will be a test of the EU's credibility. In my region of Košice in Slovakia, we are restoring our forests and increasing their ability to retain water. Solutions to the climate crisis are born in the regions – we are not just creating targets, but actively implementing solutions to protect the climate." - Hanna Zdanowska, Mayor of Łódź: "The active role of CoR members is a priority. LRAs work every day to realise projects to fight climate change, talk to our citizens about changing their habits and mindsets. We need more investment and we need clearer and simpler rules to allow us to fulfill our role. When crises hit, it's the local and regional level that reacts the fastest."
COP30: A Defining Moment for EU Leadership and Regional Empowerment
The upcoming COP30 is a critical moment for the EU to demonstrate leadership and the added value of regional and local implementation.
- Kristoffer Tamsons, Sweden, Member of County Council, Stockholm Region:
"EU rules must support, not complicate, the life and work of our citizens. Europe’s LRAs are already delivering results, and this has to be recognized and praised, not limited. Going towards COP30, the EU must show that sustainability can be built in local actions." - Piotr Całbecki, Chair of the CoR NAT Commission and President of Kuyavian-Pomeranian: "Special attention during COP30 should be paid to resilience. Following the floods in Valencia, I want to draw your attention to the need to build resilience to climate change."