C 498/24
EN
Official Journal of the European Union
30.12.2022
Opinion of the European Committee of the Regions — The CoR’s role in boosting subnational climate diplomacy ahead of COP27 and COP28
(2022/C 498/05)
Rapporteur:
Olgierd GEBLEWICZ (PL/EPP), President of West Pomerania Region
POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS THE EUROPEAN COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS (CoR),
1.
stresses the importance of subnational governments in achieving climate ambition with a focus on the future implementation of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and in fulfilling the provisions of the Paris Agreement in order to achieve the goal of limiting global warming to 1,5 oC;
2. regrets the lack of recognition of the role of subnational authorities in the Council Conclusions of 21 February 2022 on ‘EU Climate Diplomacy: accelerating the implementation of Glasgow outcomes’, stressing the key importance of climate diplomacy and of EU outreach to third countries in order to speed up the implementation of the COP26 Glasgow Climate Pact.
3. urges the national governments when negotiating the terms of global climate goals and define National Determined Contributions (NDCs) and National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) to truly involve their local and regional governments, as they are the actors concretely delivering on their international pledges and commitments; considers therefore that NDCs not endorsed by LRAs are not likely to be successfully implemented and that UNFCCC should systematically check this step before accepting them; in this context, calls on national governments to include both regional and local delegates in their national negotiating delegations to the UNFCCC climate summit;
4. emphasises the fact that cities and regions are at the forefront in dealing with the consequences of climate change, such as climate-related disasters, social impacts such as energy poverty and increasing weather-related health problems, environmental problems such as the dramatic loss of biodiversity, ecosystems and their services, and existing inequalities that climate change deepens; highlights that subnational climate diplomacy is necessary to meet national climate targets, as local and regional authorities (LRAs) prepare and implement detailed adaptation and mitigation plans that accurately take into account local environmental conditions, socioeconomic requirements, energy and climate justice;
5. stresses that successful climate actions carried out by cities and regions can be more ambitious than national targets without impairing growth and territorial cohesion.
This shows a strong ‘demonstration effect’ and provides leverage to national and sub-national political groups that aim at adopting more progressive climate policies;
6.
believes it essential to support cities and regions’ climate networks and strengthen their subnational climate diplomacy activities in order to build up critical political resilience against national level backsliding and therefore safeguard the achievement of global climate goals;