Cities and regions are leaders in climate change mitigation and adaptation, and decision makers at all levels in the EU need to officially recognise their active role in the drafting of climate policies and regulations. This is a key message of the Committee of the Regions' (CoR) draft opinion on Sustainable Europe by 2030: Follow-up to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, ecological transition and the Paris Agreement on Climate Change by rapporteur Sirpa Hertell (EPP/FI), which was adopted at today's ENVE Commission meeting.
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. Cities and regions are also responsible for 65% of the implementation of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Europe. The CoR therefore calls for integrated, inclusive local goals and targets, implementation actions and indicators in line with the principle of multi-level governance.
The opinion stresses the importance of defining the new European strategy "Towards a Sustainable Europe by 2030" as a basis for a long-term European Future. It calls for a holistic, systemic climate change policy for the European Union as opposed to the current fragmented approach. The rapporteur also requests the tightening of EU climate targets according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change 1.5 C objectives.
Rapporteur Hertell stresses that the delivery of sustainable development goals and climate goals will need a substantial increase in the investments for clean solutions and innovation. The EU needs to implement a comprehensive and systemic climate solution that also includes carbon sinks and material substitutions. She calls for more synergies between funding sources and stronger links between public and private funding for the environment.
Furthermore, knowledge transfer and knowledge co-creation, peer-to-peer, twinning and mentoring activities need to be identified, promoted and financed adequately by the EU. The draft opinion mentions the importance and influence of European cities, regions and the strong role of citizens at the global level through initiatives such as the Covenant of Mayors, the Talanoa Dialogues, and the UN SDG 25+5 Cities Leadership Platform in encouraging the exchange of best practices to ensure the implementation of the SDGs at local level.
The draft opinion is the CoR's response to the European Commission's Reflection Paper "Towards a Sustainable Europe by 2030" and it is due for adoption in October 2019 at the CoR Plenary session.