International networks of Local Governments and Municipal Authorities (LGMA) Constituency have agreed to pursue common goals at the COP28 – 28
th 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) Constituency 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 endorsers 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 2 nd 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 2 nd edition, scheduled for 6
th
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), First 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