As climate change intensifies, European progressive leaders are firmly committed to tackling its impacts through adaptation and mitigation. This commitment was on full display at COP29, held from 28 November to 12 December 2024, in Baku, Azerbaijan, where PES Group members Vasco Cordeiro, President of the European Committee of the Regions (the CoR), and Joško Klisović, President of the Zagreb City Assembly, advocated for the inclusion of local and regional authorities in the development, financing and implementation of ambitious national climate plans leading up to 2025. Regions and cities play an indispensable role in the success of the Paris Agreement and the European Green Deal, but they cannot do it alone. Effective multi-level governance, along with targeted financial support, is crucial to ensure an inclusive green transition, leaving no one and no place behind.
The CoR was actively involved in both the EU delegation and the Local Governments and Municipal Authorities (LGMA) Constituency. The LGMA is recognised as an implementing partner of the Paris Agreement and plays a crucial role in representing local and regional governments within the UNFCCC process. Through this dual engagement, the CoR amplified the voices of regions and cities ensuring they were strongly embedded in global climate discussions.
The challenges for adaptation and equity
Climate adaptation is essential, now, with no alternative, and has become a pressing priority for cities and regions facing the immediate impacts of extreme weather and climate-induced disruptions. At COP29, it emerged as a key theme, with progressive leaders advocating for empowering communities through multi-level governance and tailored adaptation strategies that best fit their unique challenges and strengths.
However, the global context of COP29 revealed critical challenges. As the far-right gains ground worldwide, progressive climate policies like the European Green Deal face increased resistance. At the same time, cities and regions in developing countries lack sufficient financial support to address the disproportionate impacts of climate change. The lack of robust funding commitments at COP29 has been particularly frustrating for representatives from the Global South, who bear the brunt of the crisis yet receive inadequate international support.
The impact of COP29 on local and regional authorities
While COP29 was perceived as disappointing by many, with critical issues left unresolved, one positive outcome was the strengthening of the Coalition for High Ambition Multilevel Partnership (CHAMP) for Climate Action. This initiative encourages national governments to integrate subnational contributions into their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) by 2025, emphasising the need for local authorities to have both the resources and the autonomy to implement adaptation projects that address their communities' specific challenges.
As Vasco Cordeiro pointed out, whether addressing floods in Valencia, heatwaves in Zagreb, or wildfires in Greece, local leaders are on the frontlines, making them indispensable to any effective climate strategy.
Zagreb, a model of climate resilience
A city like Zagreb in Croatia, already vulnerable to extreme weather, has understood the need for immediate climate action and is a prime example of how a multifaceted strategy can build resilience and ensure sustainability within a short timeframe. The city has pledged to achieve the EU's mission of 100 climate-neutral and smart cities by 2030, and every new project is assessed against its climate resilience roadmap.
Zagreb has launched adaptation initiatives such as electrifying public transport, installing low-energy street lighting, expanding renewable energy infrastructure, and planting 8,000 trees. These efforts aim to decarbonise urban systems, reduce the urban heat island effect, minimise vulnerability to climate extremes, and improve both air quality and the quality of life for residents.
Integrating climate, biodiversity, and sustainable development
Central to progressive climate action is the interconnection of climate, biodiversity, and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This was strongly highlighted in the Global Green Deal opinion by our member Kata Tüttő, City Councilor of Budapest and PES designate for the CoR Presidency (2025–2030), and her co-rapporteur Rafał Trzaskowski, Mayor of Warsaw. Their opinion stresses that climate crisis, the biodiversity restoration and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the future international plastics treaty and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, are substantially interconnected and should be tackled in synergy to optimise the co-benefits;
Post-COP29: Lessons and next steps
The lessons from COP29 are clear: progressive leadership, combined with multi-level governance and robust financial support, is key to building a sustainable and resilient future. At the same time, global conferences must ensure that policies are not only ambitious but also interconnected, reflecting the interdependence of climate and ecological systems.
As Klisović stated in Baku, “Adapting to climate change is not a question of if, but how—and how quickly we act will define the quality of life for generations to come.” By embracing this urgency and building a united front, progressive leaders are not just responding to the climate crisis; they are shaping a future that prioritises resilience, inclusivity, and sustainability.
