“Following the adoption of a global agreement on climate at the United Nations COP 21 conference which recognizes the role of regions and cities, the time has come to properly integrate them in the global and EU climate governance structures and deliver results. In order to jointly face the challenge of fighting climate change, we also need an enhanced transparency framework and a better understanding of differentiated impact of climate change" stressed the President of the Region of Sardinia and CoR rapporteur Francesco Pigliaru, recalling that cities and regions, who are responsible for more than 70% of climate change reduction measures and up to 90% of climate change adaptation measures, are key partners in reaching the ambitious climate change target agreed in Paris last December.
His opinion on Delivering the global climate agreement - a territorial approach to COP 22 in Marrakesh – is the CoR contribution to the 22nd Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC COP22) to be held in Marrakesh in November where the Committee will be part of the EU delegation. The opinion reiterates the readiness of cities and regions to aim for a 50% reduction of CO2 emissions by 2030 (rather than the EU's 40% reduction target) and provides a set of key recommendations covering good governance mechanisms and coordination of action, financing and capacity-building.
The CoR calls for better integration of regions and cities at the global level within the UNFCCC process and for a permanent and direct dialogue between all levels of government.
In relation to the progress made at EU level, the CoR opinion welcomes the adoption of a roadmap for the implementation of the Paris Agreement in the EU and the extension and reinforcement of the EU Covenant of Mayors - which includes an adaptation component in addition to being expanded to cities beyond the EU- as well as the adoption of the EU's Urban agenda. Representatives of cities and regions express satisfaction with the recent ratification of the Paris Agreement by the EU but underline that it is necessary to update the EU's 2030 and 2050 climate framework if the Union's is to fulfil the ambition to keep global temperature increase 'well below 2 degrees' as agreed in Paris in 2015.
The CoR opinion is fully in line with the European Parliament's resolution - adopted on October 6th - which also recognises the important efforts of local and regional authorities in developing climate action and the need for a genuine and transparent multi-level governance.
Based on the experience of his own region of Sardinia, President Pigliaru underlined the crucial role of regions as a 'coordinating' level both vertically for the activities of local authorities within their Member States, and horizontally between them. ‘Coordinating is both cost-effective and inclusive, as it allows smaller cities with limited resources to maximise their potential for action’, he stressed. "For example, it is estimated that the EU circular economy package could help lowering greenhouse gas emissions by 2 to 4% annually if properly implemented. The CoR therefore calls on the COP 22 to address the key role of the reduction of raw materials' exploitation and sustainable waste management in the context of combatting climate change, which had been also subject of a separate opinion by PES member Babette Winter, also adopted during this plenary.
Francesco Pigliaru also stressed the key issue of access of cities and regions to EU financial support for climate change measures. The rapporteur calls for simplified application procedures, and in particular for more support to develop the necessary administrative capacity of regions and cities, especially smaller ones. He underlined the crucial role of regions in aggregating smaller projects for low-carbon development and the need to develop innovative but easy to use financial instruments to stimulate synergies between public and private investments.
With a view to a number of amendments tabled by the ECR Group which were passed by the CoR plenary against the indications of the rapporteur, President Pigliaru stressed that the insistence by some political forces on Member States' sovereignty in choosing their energy mix and the continuous suggestion that decisive climate action would threaten competitiveness of EU businesses, showed that the seriousness of the challenge before the global community had still not been understood by some. "Only if we work together in a coordinated way, and overcome self-referential national positions, do we have a chance to find solutions at the global level. I am confident that after the success of Paris, the COP in Marrakesh will move us forward in this direction, not least with the help of local and regional authorities who can think beyond their national borders."
