Bucharest has hosted the 24th meeting of the Commission for Environment, Climate change and Energy of the European Committee of the Regions. Measures to move forward the implementation of the Paris climate agreement, the role of cities and regions in delivering the EU’s clean energy package and the Sustainable Development Goals were the three main topics on the agenda. In partnership with the European Commission, the Romanian EU Presidency and the Association of Romanian Municipalities, the CoR is also taking part in the 12th SET PLAN conference 'Making the energy transition happen locally' from 12 to 14 June 2019.

Energy poverty and the fight against global warming have starred at the 23rd meeting of the Commission for Environment, Climate change and Energy (ENVE) of the European Committee of the Regions. The implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Paris climate agreement locally, along with explicit support for coal regions, were also on the discussion table. Ahead of the European elections in May, the ENVE Chair Cor Lamers stressed the need to 'live up to the expectations of our youth on the climate emergency we live in.'

The Commission for Environment, Climate Change and Energy (ENVE) of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) has adopted its 2019 work programe. Europe’s clean energy transition, energy poverty, climate change and the implementation of the Paris agreement are on top of the agenda in addition to environmental and biodiversity protection. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), as the 2030 cross-sectorial blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future worldwide, are to orient ENVE's work programme.

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.