On 16 October 2023, the Council of the European Union approved conclusions that will serve as the EU’s general negotiating position for COP28 in Dubai, UAE. For the first time, the EU made a clear reference to the multilevel governance and the role of cities and regions in its COP negotiating mandate. The exact text is as follows (p. 17, sec. 43):
“RECOGNIZES the leadership of local and regional governments in accelerating and broadening climate action while effectively engaging citizens in the transformative process to sustainable lifestyles and patterns of consumption and production and STRESSES the need for increased involvement of local and regional governments in the process of implementing NDCs, national adaptation plans (NAPs) and LTS.”
In response, ICLEI Secretary General Gino Van Begin made the following statement: “The EU Environment Ministers’ position shows that the European Union will go to COP28 as a strong advocate for local and regional governments as a critical part of achieving national climate goals. We warmly welcome this position, which shows that including our cities, towns, regions and other subnationals is the only way to ensure effective climate outcomes. The Council of the EU’s position strengthens 2023’s slate of multilateral outcomes that explicitly recognize local and regional government leadership and the need for parties to involve all levels of government in climate action planning and financing, including earlier outcomes from the G7, G20, African Climate Summit, Amazon Climate Summit and UNCAS 2023 Chairs’ Summary, which all make reference to multilevel cooperation. Our constituency goes to COP28 with a strong message that the Parties can be united in engaging with local and regional governments to accelerate climate action.”
News
