Cities account for 70% of world greenhouse emissions, with local governments being responsible for more than 70% of climate change reduction measures and up to 90% of climate adaptation actions. Yet, the Paris Agreement falls short in integrating a system that monitors and reports cities and regions' commitments and achievements in reducing CO₂ emissions. The call for sub-national determined contributions to complement national pledges in the Paris rule book is gaining echo in Katowice as it is increasingly considered central to bridge the current emissions gap. The European Committee of the Regions took the floor at the plenary room of the United Nations (UN) COP24 Climate Change Conference to claim for a formal role for cities and regions in the implementation of the Paris Agreement, which is to limit global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. Click here to access the photo album of the CoR Delegation @ COP24.

On 6 December from 11am Michel Barnier, the European Union's Chief Negotiator for the United Kingdom's withdrawal from the Union, will discuss Brexit and its impact on regions and cities with local leaders from all the EU's member states. His visit to the European Committee of the Regions in Brussels comes on the eve of UK parliaments crucial vote on the agreed Withdrawal Agreement

Three weeks ahead UN's Climate Change Conference in Katowice, the European Committee of the Regions reiterates the need for local and regional governments to have a formal role in the new global climate governance and defends an obligation for the Parties of the Paris agreement to involve cites and regions in their greenhouse gas emission reduction plans

A pilot project that aims to forge deep working partnerships between cities and regions in Ukraine and the European Union has won strong praise in a preliminary assessment by participants. The partnerships, which began in March 2018, aim to help Ukraine's newly empowered local and regional authorities to develop effective local projects in areas ranging from energy efficiency and rural tourism to projects to boost civic engagement.