September 29, 2023

The following is a press release:

International networks of Local Governments and Municipal Authorities (LGMA) Constituency have agreed to pursue common goals at the COP28 – 28th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) – which will take place from 30 November to 12 December 2023 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE). The position paper, which advocates for the recognition of the crucial role of subnational governments in limiting global temperature rise to 1.5°C, was presented today to the European audience at the meeting of the European Committee of the Regions' ENVE Commission in Málaga, Spain.

The joint position of the Local Governments and Municipal Authorities (LGMA) Consistency has been drafted by the European Committee of the Regions, the Under2 Coalition and Regions4, with support from ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability – and contributions of networks in the LGMA, bringing in the voice of subnational governments worldwide together. A final list of endorsers of the statement will be announced at the LGMA COP28 press conference on 30 November 2023.

The signatories will be calling for the UNFCCC 198 Parties – which include all UN Member States and the European Union as a supranational entity – the UAE COP28 Presidency and the UNFCCC Secretariat to:

recognize the leadership of subnational governments in accelerating and scaling up climate mitigation and adaptation action

step up their full and meaningful participation in the process of updating, raising ambition of, implementing and reporting on Nationally Determined Contributions, National Adaptation Plans and long-term strategies

provide financial and technical support for the implementation of locally-led adaptation strategies and ensure their meaningful participation in the Global Goal on Adaptation framework

reform and set up financial mechanisms to rapidly and directly access climate finance opportunities for subnational governments and build their capacity to access such mechanisms

support subnational governments’ engagement at the first-ever COP28 Local Climate Action Summit as part of COP28 World Climate Action Summit, announced by the UAE COP28 Presidency and scheduled for 2nd of December

support the institutionalization of the Ministerial Meeting on Urbanisation and Climate Change as a regular mandated event at UNFCCC COPs and participate in its 2nd edition, scheduled for 6th December

recognize the important role of subnational governments, cities and other local authorities in the implementation of the objectives of the UNFCCC by adopting a Plan of Action on Cities and Other Subnational Governments for Climate Mitigation and Adaptation.

The position paper was presented in Málaga, where ENVE members exchanged views on the global dimension of the Green Deal with Miguel Arias Cañete, former EU Commissioner for Energy and Climate Action, Arantxa Tapia, Regions4 President and Regional Minister for Economic Development, Sustainability and Environment of Basque Country, and representatives of the Under2 (Lia Montalti, Regional Councillor of Emilia Romagna), UN Habitat and other networks. The meeting was hosted by Juan Manuel Moreno Bonilla (ES/EPP), President of Andalusia, and Francisco de la Torre, Mayor of Málaga.

Kata Tüttö (HU/PES), vice-chair of the CoR’s Commission for Environment, Climate Change and Energy (ENVE) and Deputy Mayor of Budapest, said: “We are moving forward with the work for COP28 in Dubai. Cities and regions are ready to step up climate action, as they suffer every day from the effects of climate change and loss of biodiversity. We are ready to speak with one voice to protect the right of our citizens for a healthy and safe planet. We call on UNFCCC Parties to do the same and further recognise the crucial role of local and regional authorities in achieving adaptation and mitigation measures on the ground.”

Juan Manuel Moreno Bonilla (ES/EPP), President of Andalusia, underlined his region’s strong commitment to protecting the environment and fighting climate change. “We are Europe’s most vulnerable region to the effects of global warming”, he stressed, calling on the European Union to recognise the special condition of those regions which are particularly vulnerable to climate change, so that they can adapt to this new situation without being left behind.

The European Committee of the Regions (CoR) – assembly of EU cities and regions – will be represented at the COP28 by a delegation of 8 members led by Rafał Trzaskowski, Chair of the ENVE Commission and Mayor of Warsaw. Mr Trzaskowski's opinion entitled UNFCCC COP28: the role of subnational authorities in keeping climate ambition on track will be adopted at the CoR plenary session on 9-11 October.

Contact:

Lauri Ouvinen

Tel. +32 473536887

lauri.ouvinen@cor.europa.eu