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Uresničevanje Pariškega sporazuma o podnebnih spremembah – teritorialni pristop h konferenci COP 22 v Marakešu

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Opinion Number: CDR 1412/2016
Rapporteur: PIGLIARU Francesco
Commission: ENVE
Status: Adopted
Date: 12/10/2016
 
During the elaboration process of the Opinion, the rapporteur, the working document and subsequent draft opinion adopted in ENVE Commission on 30 June pointed out the need to involve not only cities but also rural areas, regions, territories in a more integrated governance on climate. This elaboration phase was accompanied by regular contact with the European Commission.
Subsequently, on 20th July, in its Communication "Accelerating Europe's transition to a low-carbon economy", the European Commission recognised the importance to involve all actors, included rural areas.

The opinion was also elaborated paralelly to the European Parliament elaboration of its resolution on COP22. CoR rapporteur and one of the MEP leading for the drafting of the resolution had close contacts. The EP resolution includes amendments directly suggested by the rapporteur and the CoR opinion: paragraphs 46 (role of non state actors including cities and regions), 47 (cities and regions the biggest contributors to the NAZCA platform, this platform should be fully integrated within the UNFCCC process), paragraph 13 (the role of cities and regions in implementing the agreement).

In the context of the COP22, while the formalisation of the role of cities and regions has not taken the form of a COP decision and an action plan for cities and regions on climate, the role of non-Party stakeholders has been further strenghtened with the launch by the high level climate champions of a Global Climate Action Plan to boost action among non-Party stakeholders and act as a bridge with Parties. In addition an High-level meeting was organised on 18 November during the COP22 with the participation of all stakeholders. The EU delegation also pushed for the organisation of an in-session workshop on the role of non-Party stakeholders in implementing the Paris Agreement during the May Bonn session preparing COP23 later this year. This workshop is a unique opportunity for the CoR together with european cities and regions, and networks to partner and help define an inclusive and integrated global climate governance as these insessions conclusions are usually followed by action and endorsement by Parties.
THE EUROPEAN COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS

- The Paris Agreement is a considerable achievement in that it is universal, binding and balanced. However, even if fully implemented, the Parties' current pledges will not be sufficient to reach the agreed goals. Enhanced action will have to come from regions and cities, which are closely connected with local communities and territories, while the Parties must table updated contributions as soon as possible. With regard to the EU in particular, the European Committee of the Regions maintains its past position regarding the need for a 50% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030.

- The Paris Agreement recognised the importance of multi-level governance in climate policy. This principle should now be put into practice across all levels of government in order to develop connections and to close existing gaps between national, regional and local climate change policies.

- As the biggest contributors to the LPAA and NAZCA, regions and cities have already shown the extent of their commitment to combatting climate change and their potential for increased action. Their efforts should be accounted for and included within the respective Nationally Determined Contributions.

- Better integration of regions and cities within the UNFCCC process is also necessary and would allow for feedback from the ground to be channelled back to the UN level in a timely manner. It is therefore necessary to establish a permanent and direct dialogue between the different levels, starting from the local and regional level. Measures to enhance this dialogue are included in the opinion.

- The role of research in formulating appropriate policy responses to the challenge of climate change is crucial. Close links with the academic world will contribute to good policy-making with decisions based on sound expert advice.

- Although there are different funding opportunities within the EU, regions and cities encounter various hurdles, which prevent them from accessing the support measures available at EU level; the CoR therefore calls on the European Commission, the EIB and Member States to develop the appropriate administrative capacity of regions and cities to allow them to access these resources.

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ENVIRONMENT COUNCIL OF THE EU: POLICY DEBATE ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE COP21 AGREEMENT

Ministers of the Environment of the EU debated over the implementation of the COP21 agreement, based on the Communication published by the European Commission and a policy paper prepared by the Dutch presidency of the EU. Several ministers stated they needed more time to analyse the Communication while the Czech Minister noted that the role of regions in climate change was overlooked by the European Commission in its Communication.

 
04 Mar
 

EUROPEAN COMMISSION PUBLISHES COMMUNICATION ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PARIS AGREEMENT

On 2 March the European Commission presented a 10-page document asssessing the implications for the European Union of the new global climate agreement adopted in Paris in December 2015. The assessment was accompanied by a proposal for the European Union to sign the Paris Agreement. The communication clearly highlight the support of the European Commission to cities and their involvement in translating Paris agreement's goals into action. It notably quoted the importance of the Covenant of Mso create a one-stop-shop for local authorities.

 
02 Mar
 

THEMATIC DEBATE: FROM COP21 to COP22

This debate is the starting point of the mobilisation of the Committee of the Regions for the yer to come on climate. The debate was chaired by Francesco Pigliaru (IT/PES), President of Sardinia, Chair of the Commission for Environment, Climate Change and Energy of the CoR, and newly appointed rapporteur for the Opinion on COP22. Myriam Dalli (MT/PES), member of the European Parliament and part of the delegation to COP21, Elina Bardram, Head of Unit at the Directorate General for Climate Action and negotiator at the COP, as well as Yunus Arikan, Head of Global Advocacy at ICLEI international secretariat and UNFCCC focal point for cities and regions took part in the debate with members of the Committee of the Regions.

 
24 Feb
 

COP21: WHAT'S NEXT? - EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT LONG-TERM INVESTMENT AND REINDUSTRIALISATION INTERGROUP

CoR member Kata Tutto participated to the round table on the financing of the transition towards a lower carbon economy. Gilles Pargneaux, rapporteur of the European Parliament COP21 report moderated the session. Representatives of banks, industry and the European Commission also participated to the session. Dominique Ristori, Director General for Energy at the European Commission made the conclusions. The position of the Committee of the Regions is to insist on issues of access to already available funding and financing schemes for regions and cities. The problem of policy predictability which can deter private investors and banks is also harming the transition to a low-carbon economy, notably renewables. Given the large amount of investment needed to implement the COP21 agreement, cities and regions also increasingly turn to public and private investment, putting in place viable economic plans based on innovative financing mechanisms in order to access financing. There is a strong need to support cities and regions in the design of these tailor-made financing solutions adapted to local circumstances as well as to promote a multi-level governance approach which can guarantee that the need for these financing solutions is integrated by institutions providing these funds.

 
16 Feb
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