​​​​The Covenant of Mayors was launched in 2008 by the European Commission to support cities and regions with delivering the EU's 2020 climate and energy targets. The Covenant is now reinforcing its role by aligning its climate pledge to the EU's objective of reaching climate neutrality by 2050 together with the launch of a new Chamber of National Ambassadors to support the rollout of the Covenant in each Member State. The Covenant of Mayors counts more than 10,000 signatories that receive technical support and financial guidance to design and implement energy and climate plans that contribute to keeping the global temperature rise below 1.5℃ - the highest ambition of the Paris climate agreement. ​ ​​

The Ukrainian government and members of the CoR called on the European Union on 13 February to support cooperation between cities and regions as a means to help Ukraine's decentralisation, a reform process hailed by top EU officials as a major success. The head of the EU's Support Group for Ukraine suggested that the EU would particularly like to nurture municipal and regional partnerships focused on good governance.

As the EU launched its new space programme last June, the European Committee of the Regions warns about the duplication of structures and requests that available funding focuses on the space industry and its market development

The COP24 climate talks reached its main objective: to agree on a common set of rules to put the Paris Agreement into practice in 2020. Yet, as the IPCC 1.5°C report certifies, much higher climate ambition is needed to reverse alarming global warming trends. In Katowice, the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) joined forces with world networks of local governments to request a formal role for cities and regions in the Paris Agreement. The adopted rulebook opens the door to reinforced multi-level climate action and stronger cooperation between national and local and regional authorities. It invites national governments to consider the inputs of Talanoa Dialogues, amongst which is the CoR's call to include local and regional authorities in the definition of national climate strategies and action plans. Please click here for a summary of the activities and statements of the CoR members @ COP24.