EPP-CoR members called for more investment in decarbonised transport systems and for the engagement of citizens and stakeholders in order to fulfil the European Green Deal during an event "Is the Green Deal going local? Best practices from regions and cities" organised as part of the European Week of Regions and cities.
Adam Struzik, President of Mazovia Region said that public transport emissions account for 20% of greenhouse gasses emissions and that in the past decades not much changed in reduction of emissions. He called for more investment in clean public transport "A clean and decarbonised transport system in cities and suburbs would be a matter of great significance in achieving the Green Deal targets including clean air. We have to invest in zero emission, new technology and new fuels and look at renewable sources of energy. Enough funding has to be made available for clean transport and services that run on clean fuels not only in metropolitan areas but also in rural areas across Europe."
Rafał Trzaskowski, Mayor of Warsaw said that the European Green Deal and Climate Pact must enable more cooperation between local and regional authorities and EU institutions. He reiterated his call for direct funding "We need direct funding so that we get results which are visible for citizens. I urge the European Commission to come up with pan-European Programmes, such as clean public transport and energy saving, that will ensure sustainable transformations of cities and regions". Trzaskowski also emphasised on the need of education. While hailing the effort of young people, the mayor said "We must place education at the center of the European Green Deal to create a new culture of environment and climate protection."
Hanna Zdanowska, Mayor of Łódź spoke about the circular economy. "Given the pandemic and the issue of waste, we should look at the number of used masks that are being thrown away. In Poland the number of mask waste has doubled in the last months and we must have solutions taking into account that they are considered health waste"
Markku Markkula, Chair of the Espoo City Board and President of the Helsinki Region Board said that mainstreaming was key for the Sustainable Development Goals and the European Green Deal. "Different policies must contribute to the green deal. All cities and regions as well as citizens must gain sufficient ownership of the Green Deal, taking that as shared ownership". Speaking on the need to keep working on the Green Deal Markkula added "This is an exceptional time, one when we are fighting to save people and jobs in our regions and cities, one when we are trying to create safety and certainty for people and businesses and at the same time we need to bounce forward."
Earlier on before the event, EPP-CoR members participated in the second meeting of the European Committee of the Regions Green Deal Going Local - Working Group. During the meeting Ricardo Rio, Mayor of Braga said "Communication with citizens and knowledge sharing are of key importance to fulfil the Green Deal targets." He referred to several sustainable projects completed in Braga including the renewed bus fleet of which 30% is now working on electricity and work conducted with schools to raise awareness on how to save energy.
Michael Murphy, Councillor of Tipperary County Council spoke on the need to engage citizens "The Green Deal will only be successful if we engage not just local and regional authorities but also citizens. This is crucial so that they not only feel part of the transition but also serve as active contributors."